Exercise systems in virtual environment

ABSTRACT

An exercise system includes at least two exercise modules and is arranged to allow multiple users performing exercises on, with or against the modules in different locations while performing at least one preset task defined in a context of a story, a scenery or a video (or computer) game each in turn preferably defined in a virtual environment. The exercise system generally generates the task of the story, scenery or game in images of the virtual environment and simulates the exercising users as simulated user in such images, while allowing the users to manipulate the simulated users for attaining a goal of the task based on features related with the exercises performed by the user or allowing the task to manipulate operations of the modules based on the features. The execs system includes at least two output modules each including a visual unit to provide the images for the task to each user and an olfactory or tactile unit to provide smell or tactile sensation to the user, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to various patent applications whichhave been filed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the sameApplicant such as, e.g., a U.S. Provisional Patent Application which isentitled “Local exercise systems with compact visual units,” was filedon Jul. 16, 2007, and bears the Serial Number U.S. Ser. No. 60/959,464,a second U.S. Provisional Patent Application which is entitled “Localexercise systems with full-size visual units,” was filed on Jul. 16,2007, and bears the Serial Number U.S. Ser. No. 60/959,564, and a thirdU.S. Provisional Patent Application which is entitled “Global exercisesystems and methods,” was filed on Aug. ______, 2007, and bears theSerial Number U.S. Ser. No. 60/9______. All of the above Applicationswill be referred to as the “co-pending Applications” hereinafter and allof the Applications and are to be incorporated herein in their entiretyby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An exercise system includes at least two exercise modules and isarranged to allow multiple users performing exercises on, with oragainst the modules in different locations while performing at least onepreset task defined in a context of a story, a scenery or a video (orcomputer) game each in turn preferably defined in a virtual environment.The exercise system generally generates the task of the story, sceneryor game in images of the virtual environment and simulates theexercising users as simulated user in such images, while allowing theusers to manipulate the simulated users for attaining a goal of the taskbased on features related with the exercises performed by the user orallowing the task to manipulate operations of the modules based on thefeatures. The execs system includes at least two output modules eachincluding a visual unit to provide the images for the task to each userand an olfactory or tactile unit to provide smell or tactile sensationto the user, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A recent trend in many civilized countries is that their population tendto get obese. With more nutritious foods available and less time forexercise, excess nutrients are converted into cholesterol and stored infat cells. Since the obesity is related to a high blood cholesterol andvarious diseases, not only individuals but also governments focus onreducing obese population.

As a result, it is not uncommon to find people engaging in variousexercises. Some people jog, whereas others choose to go to gyms and toexercise on, with or against various exercise equipment providedthereat. Such exercise or fitness equipment is generally intended toimprove and/or enhance a muscle tone of an user, to increase a musclemass and volume of the user, to force or facilitate the user to reducehis or her weight, to increase physical stamina of the user, and thelike.

Although conventional exercise or fitness equipment is effective inhelping the user burn his or her excess energy, it typically requiresits user to spend a fair amount of time therewith. For example, the usermay waste a piece of cake causing a surge of hundreds of calories withina minute, but she or he has to run on a treadmill for at least an hourto burn those excess calories. In addition, the user has to engage invarious aerobic and non-aerobic exercises for a prolonged period of timeto improve or enhance the muscle tone and to increase the muscle massand volume of the user, not to mention reducing his or her weight.Accordingly, patient and endurance are vital virtues for the users ofsuch exercise or fitness equipment. In order to help the user exercisefor a proper duration, the gyms offer a variety of amenities such asTV's and DVD players in order to alleviate the user from getting bored.Rather, other users choose to carry their radios or audio players andlisten to music while performing exercise. Whatever they may resort to,prior art exercise or fitness equipment is, however, of little or atmost a limited value in eliminating the boredom of the user duringexercise.

Various fitness or exercise equipment has been suggested to alleviatesuch problems, where examples of such equipment have been disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,490 and 5,425,691 to M. A. van der Hoeven entitled“Stepping and sliding exerciser,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,007 to G. M. Rootand F. Hoorn entitled “Athlete's GPS-based performance monitor,” U.S.Pat. No. 6,106,297 to E. Pollak and S. Vaquerizo entitled “Distributedinteractive simulation exercise manager system and method,” U.S. Pat.No. 6,159,131 to L. Pfeffer entitled “Fitness triage system and method,”U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,789 B2 to T. Harada and K. Shimizu which is entitled“Pedometer with game mode,” U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,312,363 B1 and 6,626,799 B2both issued to S. R. Watterson et al. entitled “System and methods forproviding an improved exercise device with motivational programming,”U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,891 B1 to R. Fedrigon et al. which is entitled“Interactive exercise pad system,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,111 B1 to J. H.Sklar et al. entitled “Interactive workstation for creating customized,watch and do physical exercise programs,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,086 B1 toS. Brady-Koontz which is entitled “Method of display of video images ofexercises,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,952 B2 issued to M. C. Wu entitled“Turning control device for a virtual stationary bike,” U.S. Pat. No.6,590,536 B1 to C. A. Walton which is entitled “Body motion detectingsystem with correction for tilt of accelerometers and remote measurementof body position,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,138 B1 issued to L. D. Virine andT. G. Simpson entitled “System and method for providing demographicallytargeted information,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,078 B2 to L. Pfeffer entitled“Fitness triage system and nutrition gets personal,” U.S. Pat. No.6,635,013 B2 to L. Pfeffer entitled “Fitness triage system and exercisegets personal,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,385 B1 to M. J. Bravomalo entitled“System and method for weight-loss goal visualization and planning andbusiness method for use therefor,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,091 B1 to K. G.Abelbeck et al. entitled “Exercise device control and billing system,”U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,000 B1 to D. J. Reinkensmeyer et al. which isentitled “Method and apparatus for mass-delivered movementrehabilitation,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,736 B2 to L. D. Virine and T. G.Simpson which is entitled “System and method for providingdemographically targeted information,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,991 B2 issuedto S. M. O'Malley entitled “Guided instructional cardiovascular exercisewith accompaniment,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,536 B1 to S. M. Cuskaden and A.G. Evans entitled “Exercising using public communication network,” U.S.Pat. No. 6,749,537 B1 to P. L. Hickman entitled “Method and apparatusfor remote interactive exercise and health equipment,” U.S. Pat. No.6,786,848 B2 issued to A. Yamashita entitled “Exercise assisting methodand apparatus implementing such method,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,927 B2issued to M. Toyama entitled “Exercise assistance controlling method andexercise assisting apparatus,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,069 B2 to S. H. Parkwhich is entitled “Method and system for automatically evaluatingphysical health state using a game,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,411 B2 to S. G.Ziv-el et al. entitled “Method and system for online teaching using webpages,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,860 B1 to N. H. Nusbaum entitled “Exercisebicycle virtual reality apparatus,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,351 B1 to P. L.Hickman and M. L. Gough entitled “Method and apparatus for remoteinteractive exercise and health equipment,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,853 B1to S. M. Cuskaden and A. G. Evans entitled “Exercising using a publiccommunication network,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,048 B1 to John Fernandez andJuan Fernandez entitled “Video fitness machine,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,162B2 to P. Kuo entitled “Exercise device,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,241 B1 toP. Kuo entitled “Exercise device,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,134 B1 to R.LaVelle, entitled “Exercise and game controller apparatus and method,”U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,779 B2 to R. James-Herbert entitled “Computer gamecontroller,” and the like. However, any of such equipment disclosed inthe above patents or any combination thereof have not completely solvedthe above problem.

Therefore, there is a need for an exercise system capable of allowingthe users to engage in exercises in geographically different locationswithout getting bored. To this end, there is a need for an exercisesystem providing images of a task of a story, a scenery or a video (orcomputer) game in a preset viewpoint such that the users may engage inthe task while performing exercises on, with or against multipleexercise modules also disposed in different locations. There is a needfor an exercise system for providing the images of the task of thestory, scenery or game on multiple visual units each disposed in asingle or multiple view angles of the exercising users. There is a needfor the exercise system including multiple exercise modules which aredisposed in geographically different locations and communicate with eachother either directly, indirectly through another module of the systemor through an external provider. There is a need for the exercise systemcapable of providing auditory, olfactory, and/or tactile features of thetask each synchronized with the images of the task. There also is a needfor the exercise system capable of manipulating at least one feature ofthe task of the story, scenery or game based upon at least one anotherfeature of the exercise or, in the alternative, manipulating at leastone feature of at least one operation of the exercise system based uponat least one feature of the task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an exercise system providingusers who perform exercises on, with or against exercise modules of thesystem in different locations with a task which is defined as a story,scenery or video (or computer) game in a virtual environment. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to the exercise system forgenerating the task of the story, scenery or game in images of thevirtual environment, simulating the users into simulated user in suchimages, and allowing the users to manipulate the simulated users forattaining a goal of the task based on features related with theexercises or, alternatively, allowing the task to manipulate operationsof the exercise modules based upon such features. The system includes atleast two visual units for providing such images for the task to eachexercising user. The present invention also relates to various methodsof and processes for providing such images of the task to the exercisingusers and allowing such user to manipulate the task or allowing the taskto manipulate the exercise based on the feature.

The exercise systems of this invention may be provided in variousembodiments. For example, the exercise system may be fabricated as anassembly of multiple exercise modules each disposed in differentlocations and providing at least one preset exercise, at least oneoutput module for providing the virtual environment (i.e., images,optional sounds, smell or sensations, and the like) of the task of astory, a scenery or a game to multiple users who perform the same ordifferent exercises in different locations, at least one control modulefor manipulating operations of the output and exercise modules or therest of the system, and the like. In another example, the system may beprovided as an add-on assembly of the output and control modulesoperatively coupling with conventional exercise or fitness modulesdisposed in different locations and providing the virtual environmentwith the images, optional sounds, smells or sensations to the userswhile manipulating the operations of the exercise modules. In anotherexample, the exercise system may include such exercise and controlmodules, where the latter may operatively couple to a prior artaudiovisual, olfactory or tactile output device of the users and usevisual, auditory, olfactory or tactile capability of the device todisplay the images, playing such sounds, giving off smells, orgenerating sensations for the task, where the device may be a portableor stationary image display device (e.g., a TV, a monitor, a palm deviceor DVD player with a display panel, a game console with a display panel,a communication device with a display panel, and so on), or a portableor stationary audio device (e.g., a sound-generating device with aspeaker, a CD player with a speaker, a communication device with aspeaker, a game console with a speaker, and the like).

Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is to provide anexercise system with multiple exercise modules disposed in different (orgeographically separate) locations and on, with or against each of whicheach user simultaneously performs physical exercises while participatingin a preset task of a story, a scenery or a video (or computer) gameeach provided in images (and optional sounds, smells, and/or sensations)of a virtual environment and each defining at least one preset goal.Therefore, a related objective of this invention is to include in theexercise system multiple compact or full-size visual units which maydisplay the images for the task for each user and to allow the users toview the images on the visual units while simultaneously performing thesame or different exercises. Another related objective of this inventionis to generate the task of the story, scenery or game each incorporatingtherein at least one simulated user which simulates at least one featureof at least one of the exercising users. Another related objective ofthis invention is to provide the task of the story, scenery or game eachdefining visual, auditory, olfactory or tactile feature at least one ofwhich may be manipulated by various features of the users, exercisesperformed by the users, or operations of the system. Another relatedobjective of this invention is to provide the system which canmanipulate at least one operation of the exercise modules based on atleast one feature of the task of the story, scenery or game. Anotherrelated objective of this invention is to enable the exercise systemwith at least two exercise modules to transfer at least one feature ofthe task, users, exercises or operations from one to another of theexercise modules via a local or global network in order to allow suchusers to participate in the task while simultaneously perform the sameor different exercises.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an exercisesystem on, against, and/or with which the users simultaneously performphysical exercises while simulating each of such users as at least onesimulated user and then incorporating the simulated users into a presettask of a story, a scenery or a video (or computer) game generated inimages of the virtual environment and defining at least one preset goal.Accordingly, a related objective of this invention is to generate thesimulated users by simulating at least one feature of each user suchthat at least one feature of each simulated user in such images isrelated to the feature of each user. Another related objective of thisinvention is to allow such users to manipulate the simulated users basedon at least one feature of such users, exercises, or operations of thesystem so that the users manipulate at least one feature of the task ofthe story, scenery or game into which the simulated users are included.Another related objective of this invention is to allow the task tomanipulate the simulated users so that the system may manipulate atleast one of its operations based on at least one feature of suchsimulated users, thereby requiring the users to perform the exercises atleast one feature of which may be decided by at least one of thesimulated users. Another related objective of this invention is toarrange the system to manipulate at least one feature of the taskbetween at least two exercise modules so that at least two users maycompete each other in the task while simultaneously performing the sameor different exercises with, on, or against each of the exercise modulesdisposed in the same or different locations.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an exercisesystem on, against, and/or with which multiple users simultaneouslyperform physical exercises while participating in a task of a story, ascenery or a video (or computer) game and proceeding therethrough so asto attain a preset goal of the task. Accordingly, a related objective ofthis invention is to provide the story, scenery or game for the taskwhile relating at least one feature of the images for the task to atleast one feature of the exercises, users, and/or operation of theexercise system so that the latter may manipulate the feature of theimages. Another related objective of this invention is to simulate eachof the users into at least one simulated user and include the simulatedusers as a part of the images while manipulating at least one feature ofsuch simulated users based upon at least one feature of the exercises,users, and/or operations of the system. Another related objective ofthis invention is to arrange the system to manipulate at least onefeature of the task between at least two exercise modules so that atleast two users may compete each other in the task of the game whilesimultaneously performing the same or different exercises on, with oragainst each of the exercise modules.

Another objective of the present invention is to participate multipleusers exercising on, with or against multiple exercise modules of anexercise system simultaneously in a preset task of a story, a scenery ora video (or computer) game while manipulating at least one operation ofthe system based on the task. Therefore, a related objective of thisinvention is to provide the task while relating at least one feature ofsuch images for the game with at least one feature of the operation ofthe system such that the former may manipulate at least one operation ofthe system. Another related objective of this invention is to simulateeach user into at least one simulated user and then incorporate such asa part of the task while manipulating at least one feature of theoperations of the system based upon at least one feature of the task.Another related objective of this invention is to arrange the exercisesystem to manipulate at least one feature of the task between at leasttwo exercise modules so that at least two users compete each other inthe task of the game while simultaneously performing the same ordifferent exercises on, with or against each of the exercise modules.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide communicationbetween multiple users exercising on, with or against multiple exercisemodules while allowing such users to participate in a task of a story,scenery or video (or computer) game and to compete each other in images(or other features of a virtual environment) for the task. Accordingly,a related objective of this invention is to arrange the system tomonitor at least one feature of one of the users, at least one featureof one of such exercises, at least one feature of at least one of theexercise modules, or at least one feature of the task through the localor global network. Another related objective of this invention is tomonitor the features of the users, the features of the exercises, thefeatures of operations of such exercise modules or the features of thetask through the local or global network. Another related objective ofthis invention is to transfer the feature monitored in one location toanother location without altering the monitored feature (i.e., a simpletransfer). Another related objective of this invention is to transferthe feature monitored in one location to another while altering orconverting the feature based on a preset relation (i.e., an equivalentconversion), where the relation is defined between at least one featureof the exercises and that of the task, between at least one feature ofthe exercises and the goal and/or stages of the task, between at leastone feature of such users and that of the task, and/or between at leastone feature of such users and the goal and/or stages of the task, andwhere the relation may be defined between at least one feature of theoperation and at least one feature of the task, and/or between at leastone feature of the operation and the goal and/or stages of the task.

In all of such objectives, the system may be arranged to provide thevirtual environment which not only provides the images for the task butalso generates the sounds, smells, or sensations for the task, therebyproviding the visual feature as well as the optional auditory, olfactoryor tactile features. The system may then manipulate at least one featureof the images, sounds, smells, or sensations for the task of the story,scenery or game at least partly based on other features of the users,exercises, or operation of the exercise modules. Alternatively, thesystem may manipulate at least one feature of operations of the exercisemodules at least partly based on the task, users, or performedexercises.

Various exercise systems of this invention may be constructed in variousarrangements. For example, the exercise system may have at least twoexercise modules on, with or against which the users simultaneouslyperform such same or different exercises. In another example, the systemmay include a single exercise module in one location and on, with oragainst which one user performs the exercise, and may then couple withan external exercise module in a different location and on, with oragainst which another user performs the exercise.

Various apparatus, method, and process aspects of such exercise systemsand embodiments thereof are now enumerated. It is appreciated, however,that following system, method, and process aspects of the presentinvention may also be embodied in many other different modes and,therefore, should not be limited to such aspects and their embodimentswhich are to be set forth herein. Rather, various exemplary aspects andtheir embodiments set forth herein are provided so that this disclosureis thorough and complete, and fully conveys the scope of the presentinvention to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

In one aspect of the present invention, an exercise system is arrangedto provide at least two users with at least one preset task of a story,a scenery, and/or a video (or computer) game each of which is providedin images of at least one virtual environment, to allow such users tosimultaneously perform exercises (or to allow the user to perform suchexercises in a delayed mode), and to directly or indirectly manipulateat least one feature of the preset task at least partly based upon atleast one feature of at least one of the exercises performed by theusers.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, an exercisesystem includes a first standard exercise module, at least one of asecond and third standard exercise modules, at least one first outputmodule, and at least one first control module. The first standardexercise module may be one of a first exercise module through a ninthexercise module, where the first exercise module is arranged to allowthe user to perform exercise on, with, or against at least one portionthereof while consuming energy of its user during the exercise, whilethe second exercise module is arranged to define at least one presetload, to include at least one actuating part capable of coupling withthe load and contacting at least one body part of the user, and then toallow the user to perform the exercise by contacting the actuating partand by moving such a part against the load while consuming energythereof during the exercise. The third exercise module may be arrangedto include at least one track capable of translating in a presetdirection and to allow the user to perform the exercise of walking orrunning over the track while consuming energy thereof during theexercise, while the fourth exercise module is arranged to define atleast one rotation axis, to define at least one preset load, to includeat least one pedal coupling with the load and rotating about the axis,and to allow the user to perform the exercise of rotating the pedalagainst such a load while consuming energy thereof during its exercise.The fifth exercise module may be arranged to include at least onemovable weight, and to allow its user to perform its exercise ofpivoting, translating, reciprocating, rotating or moving the weightwhile consuming energy thereof during the exercise, while the sixthexercise module is arranged to define at least one central point, todefine at least one preset load, to include at least one lever couplingwith the load and pivoting about the point, and to allow the user toperform the exercise of reciprocating, translating, pivoting, rotating,displacing or moving such a lever about the point against the load whileconsuming energy thereof during the exercise. The seventh exercisemodule is arranged to include at least one belt capable of enclosing atleast one body part of the user therearound, and then to allow the userto perform the exercise of vibrating the body part while consumingenergy thereof during the exercise, while the eighth exercise module isarranged to define a preset load, to include at least one pad capable ofcoupling with the load and moving or deforming in response to energysupplied thereto by the user, and then to allow the user to perform theexercise of translating, reciprocating, rotating, deforming, pivoting,pushing, or pulling at least a portion of the pad against the load whileconsuming energy thereof during the exercise. The ninth exercise modulemay be arranged to define at least one preset load, to include at leastone handle coupling with the load, and to allow the user to perform theexercise of translating, reciprocating, rotating, pivoting, displacing,or moving the handle against such a load while consuming energy of theuser during the exercise. Regardless of its configuration and operation,the first standard exercise module is disposed in a first location,while the second standard exercise module is one of the first to ninthexercise module, but disposed in a second location which is different(or geographically separate or apart) from the first location, wherebydifferent users may simultaneously perform such exercises of differenttypes and of the same, similar or different extents. The third standardexercise module is one of the first through ninth exercise modules anddisposed in the second location, whereby different users maysimultaneously perform the exercises of the same or similar types and ofthe same, similar or different extents. The output module may include atleast two or full-size visual units each of which is provided in adisposition and arrangement for displaying an entire portion of eachimage in a single view angle of each user and within a viewable distanceso that each user may simultaneously view the entire portion of eachimage displayed on each visual unit while performing each exercises on,with or against each of the above standard exercise modules (to bereferred to as the “first output module” hereinafter). The controlmodule is arranged to operatively couple with at least one of the outputmodule and standard exercise modules directly or indirectly, to providethe task in the images of the virtual environment, to display the imageson the visual units, to assign at least one preset goal to the task, tomonitor at least one feature of the exercises provided by the standardexercise modules, the users simultaneously performing such exercises,and/or at least one operation of the standard exercise modules, and torelate the exercises to each other based on at least one preset relation(to be referred to as the “first control module” hereinafter). The firstcontrol module may also be arranged to manipulate at least one featureof the images at least partly based on the relation and at least partlybased upon at least one feature of such exercises, users, or operation,whereby the users simultaneously proceed to attain the task goal whilesimultaneously performing the exercises on, with, and/or against thestandard exercise modules which are provided in the same or differentlocations and whereby the control module directly or indirectlymanipulates the task feature at least partly based on the relation orupon the feature of at least one of such exercises, users, and operationwhile communicating with the visual units or standard exercise modulesvia a local or global network encompassing such locations (to bereferred to as the “first control functions” hereinafter).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, at leastone output module, and the first control module which may perform thefirst control functions. The output module may include at least twovisual units each provided in a disposition and an arrangement fordisplaying different portions of each of the images in each of multipleview angles of each user but within a viewable distance therefrom sothat each user simultaneously views each portion of each image displayedon each visual unit one at a time while performing each exercise on,with or against each standard exercise module (to be referred to as the“second output module”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, at leastone output module, and the first control module which may be arranged tosimulate at least one of the users as at least one simulated userincluded in the images for such one of the users, and to manipulate atleast one feature of the simulated user of the images at least partlybased on the relation and also at least partly based upon at least onefeature of such exercises, users or operation, whereby the users mayproceed along the task for the task goal while simultaneously performingthe exercises on, with or against the standard exercise modules to bedisposed in the different locations and whereby the control module maydirectly or indirectly manipulate the feature of the simulated user ofthe task at least partly based upon the relation and the feature of theexercises, users or operation while communicating with at least onevisual unit and/or standard exercise module via a local or globalnetwork encompassing the locations (to be referred to as the “secondcontrol functions”). The output module may include at least two visualunits each defines a preset configuration and is provided in anarrangement and disposition for displaying an entire portion of eachimage in a single view angle of each user and in a viewable distancetherefrom due to the configuration, disposition, or arrangement so thateach user simultaneously views the entire portion of each imagedisplayed on each visual unit while performing each exercise on, with oragainst each standard exercise module (to be referred to as the “thirdoutput module” hereinafter).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, at leastone output module, and the first control module which performs thesecond control functions. The output module may include at least twovisual units each having a preset configuration and provided in adisposition and an arrangement to display different portions of eachimage in each of multiple view angles of each user but also in aviewable distance therefrom so that each user may simultaneously vieweach portion of each image displayed on each visual unit sequentially(or one at a time) due to the configuration, disposition, or arrangementwhile performing each exercise on, against or with each standardexercise module (to be referred to as the “fourth output module”).

In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise system isarranged to provide at least two users with at least one preset task ofa story, scenery or video (or computer) game in images of at least onevirtual environment, to allow the users to simultaneously performexercises (or to perform such exercises in a delayed mode), and then todirectly or indirectly manipulate at least one feature of at least oneof such exercises at least partly based on at least one feature of thetask.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, an exercisesystem includes the first standard exercise module, at least one of suchsecond and third standard exercise modules, the first output module, andthe first control module which is arranged to manipulate at least onefeature of the operation at least partly based on the relation and alsoon at least one feature of the images of the task, whereby the userssimultaneously proceed along the task for the task goal whilesimultaneously performing such exercises on, with or against thestandard exercise modules which are disposed in different locations andat least one feature of which is arranged to be manipulated eitherindirectly or directly by the control module at least partly based onthe task performed by at least one of the users while communicating withthe visual units or standard exercise modules via a local or globalnetwork which is to encompass those locations (to be referred to as the“third control functions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, the secondoutput module, and the first control module performing the third controlfunctions.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, the thirdoutput module, and the first control module. Such a first control modulemay also be arranged to simulate at least one of the users as at leastone simulated user included in the images for such a user, and tomanipulate the feature of the operation at least partly based on therelation and on at least one feature of the images for the task, wherebythe users simultaneously proceed along the task for the task goal whilesimultaneously performing the exercises on, with or against the standardexercise modules and at least one feature of which is arranged to bedirectly or indirectly manipulated by the control module at least partlybased on the simulated user while communicating with the visual units orthe standard exercise modules via a local or global network whichencompass such locations (to be referred to as the “fourth controlfunctions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, the fourthoutput module, and the first control module performing the fourthcontrol functions.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise system isarranged to provide at least two users with at least one preset task ofa story, scenery or video (or computer) game in images of at least onevirtual environment, to allow such users to simultaneously performexercises defining the same, similar or different types and extents (orto perform exercises in a delayed mode), to relate at least one firstfeature of the task, exercises, users or operation of the system to atleast one second feature of at least one another of the task, exercises,users or operation, and to directly or indirectly manipulate one of thefirst and second features at least partly based on the other thereof.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, an exercisesystem may include the first standard exercise module as well as atleast one of the second and third standard exercise modules, where atleast one of the first and second (or third) standard exercise modulesprovides the operation defining such a feature of the system. The systemmay also include the first output module, and at least one controlmodule which is arranged to operatively couple with at least one of theoutput module and standard exercise modules directly or indirectly, toprovide the task in such images of the virtual environment, to displaythe images on the visual units, to assign at least one goal to the task,to monitor at least one of the first and second features, to relate oneof the first and second features to another thereof at least partlybased upon at least one preset relation which may be stored therein,generated thereby, supplied by at least one of the users, and the like(to be referred to as the “second control module”). The second controlmodule may be arranged to manipulate at least one of the first andsecond features at least partly based on another thereof, whereby theusers may simultaneously proceed along the task for the goal whilesimultaneously performing the exercises on, with or against the standardexercise modules disposed in different locations, whereby the controlmodule directly or indirectly manipulates another task feature orstandard exercise modules at least partly based on the relation ormonitored feature while communicating with the visual units or standardexercise modules via a local or global network linking those locations(to be referred to as the “fifth control functions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and leastone of such second and third standard exercise modules, where at leastone of the first and second (or third) standard exercise modulesprovides the operation which defines such a feature of the system. Thesystem may also have the second output module, and the second controlmodule which may also perform the fifth control functions.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anexercise system has the first standard exercise module and at least oneof such second and third standard exercise modules, where at least oneof the first and second or third standard exercise modules provides theoperation defining the feature of the system. The system may include thethird output module, and the second control module. The second controlmodule may be arranged to simulate at least one of the users as at leastone simulated user in the images for such an user, and to manipulate atleast one of the first and second features at least partly based onanother thereof, whereby the users may simultaneously proceed along thetask for the task goal while simultaneously performing such exerciseson, with or against the standard exercise modules incorporated in thedifferent locations and whereby the control module directly orindirectly manipulates another feature of the task or standard exercisemodules at least partly based on the preset relation or monitoredfeature while communicating with at least one of the visual units orstandard exercise modules via a local or global network covering suchlocations (to be referred to as the “sixth control functions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anotherexercise system may include the first standard exercise module and leastone of such second and third standard exercise modules, where at leastone of the first and second (or third) standard exercise modulesprovides the operation defining such a feature of the system. The systemmay also have the fourth output module, and the second control modulewhich may also perform the sixth control functions.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise system isarranged to connect multiple different locations, to include at leastone standard exercise module in each location, to define at least onepreset task of a story, a scenery or a video or computer game eachprovided in images of at least one virtual environment, and then toallow multiple users to simultaneously perform exercises on, with oragainst the standard exercise modules disposed in the locations (or toperform such exercises in a delayed mode) while competing each other inthe task images at least partly based on such exercises performed by theusers.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, an exercisesystem may include the first standard exercise module, at least one ofthe second and third standard exercise modules, at least one outputmodule, and at least one control module. The output module may includeat least two visual units one of which may be provided in the firstlocation, another of which is provided in the second location, and eachof which is provided in a disposition and an arrangement for displayingan entire portion of each image in a single view angle of each user andin a viewable distance therefrom so that each user may simultaneouslyview the entire portion of each image on each visual unit whileperforming each exercise on, with or against each of such standardexercise modules (which is to be referred to as the “fifth outputmodule”). The control module is arranged to operatively couple with atleast one of the output module and the standard exercise modulesdirectly or indirectly, to provide the task in such images, to displaythe images on the visual units, to assign at least one goal to the task,to be disposed in one of the first and second locations, to monitor atleast one feature of such exercises provided by the standard exercisemodules, users simultaneously performing the exercises or at least oneoperation of the standard exercise modules, to relate such exerciseswith each other based on at least one preset relation (to be referred toas the “third control module”). The third control module may manipulateat least one feature of the images at least partly based on the relationand on at least one feature of the exercises, users or operation,whereby such users may simultaneously proceed along the task for thegoal while simultaneously performing the exercises on, with or againstthe standard exercise modules in such locations and whereby the controlmodule directly or indirectly manipulates the task feature at leastpartly based upon the relation or feature of the exercises, users oroperation while communicating with the visual units or standard exercisemodules disposed in another location through a local or global network(to be referred to as the “seventh control functions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anexercise system has the first standard exercise module and at least oneof the second and third standard exercise modules, at least one outputmodule, and the third control module which performs such seventh controlfunctions. The output module may also include at least two visual units,one provided in the first location, another provided in the secondlocation, and each provided in a disposition and an arrangement fordisplaying different portions of each image in each view angle of eachuser but in a viewable distance therefrom so that each usersimultaneously views each portion of each image displayed on each ofsuch visual units sequentially (or one at a time) while performing eachexercise on, with or against each standard exercise module (to bereferred to as the “sixth output module”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anexercise system has the first standard exercise module and at least oneof the second and third standard exercise modules, at least one outputmodule, and the third control module. The output module may have atleast two visual units, one provided in the first location, anotherprovided in the second location, and each defining a configuration andprovided in an arrangement and a disposition for displaying an entireportion of each image in a single view angle of each user and within aviewable distance due to such a configuration, disposition orarrangement so that each user may simultaneously view the entire portionof the image on each visual unit while performing each exercise on,with, and/or against each standard exercise module (to be referred to asthe “seventh output module”). The third control module may be arrangedto simulate at least one of the users as at least one simulated userincluded in the images of the task, to manipulate at least one featureof such images at least partly based on the relation and on at least onefeature of the exercises, users or operation, whereby such users maysimultaneously proceed along the task for the task goal whilesimultaneously performing the exercises on, with or against the standardexercise modules in different locations and whereby the control moduledirectly or indirectly manipulates the task feature at least partlybased on the relation or such a feature of the exercises, users oroperation while communicating with the visual units or standard exercisemodules disposed in another location in a local or global network (to bereferred to as the “eighth control functions”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, anexercise system has the first standard exercise module and at least oneof the second and third standard exercise modules, at least one outputmodule, and the third control module performing such eighth controlfunctions. The output module may include at least two visual units oneprovided in the first location, another provided in the second location,and each defining a preset configuration and also provided in adisposition and arrangement for displaying different portions of eachimage in each view angle of each user but also in a viewable distancetherefrom so that each user may simultaneously view each portion of eachof the images on each visual unit sequentially due to the configuration,disposition or arrangement while performing each exercise on, with oragainst each standard exercise module (to be referred to as the “eighthoutput module”).

In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise system may bearranged to operatively connect multiple locations through a localnetwork or a global network, to include at least one exercise module ineach of the locations, to define at least one preset task of a story, ascenery, a video game, and/or a computer game each defining a presetgoal for the task and provided in images for at least one virtualenvironment, and to allow each of multiple users to simultaneouslyperform exercises on, with, or against each of the exercise modulesdisposed in each of the locations while competing each other in theimages for the task goal at least partly based on said exercisesperformed by the users.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, an exercisesystem may have a first exercise module, a second exercise module, atleast one output module, and at least one control module. The firstexercise module is arranged to define a first exercise type and a firstexercise load and to allow a first user to perform a first exercisewhile consuming energy thereof during the first exercise. The secondexercise module is arranged to define a second exercise type and asecond exercise load and to also allow a second user to perform a secondexercise while consuming energy thereof during the second exercise,where the second exercise module may be arranged to operative couplewith the first exercise module via the network indirectly or directly,thereby allowing the first and second users to simultaneously performthe exercises while pursuing the goal of the task. The output moduleincludes at least two visual units one of which is provided in a firstlocation, another of which is provided in a second location, and each ofwhich is provided in a preset disposition as well as in a presetarrangement so as to display such images to each of the exercisingusers. The control module is arranged to operatively couple with theoutput module and/or exercise modules indirectly or directly, to definethe goal of the task, to provide the task in the images, to display suchimages on the visual units, to monitor the first and/or second extentsand/or loads as well as extents of the first and second exercises eachperformed by each of the users, to simulate such users into simulatedusers included in the images, to relate the type, load, and/or extent ofthe first exercise with at least one of those of the second exercisebased on at least one preset relation, and then to perform manipulationof at least one of such simulated users in the images at least partlybased on the types, loads, and/or extents related to each other by sucha relation, thereby allowing the users to compete for attaining the taskgoal while simultaneously performing the exercises in such locationsregardless of whether the types of the first and second exercises areidentical to each other.

The types of the first and second exercises may be identical to eachother, where the control module performs such manipulation at leastsubstantially based on the loads and/or extents of the first and/orsecond exercises. Such types of the first and second exercises may bedifferent from each other, where the control module may be arranged toconvert at least one of the extents from one unit to another unit andthen to perform comparison of such converted extent with another of theextents, thereby performing such manipulation at least substantiallybased on such a comparison. The control module may be arranged toperform the manipulation by manipulating the simulated user in theimages. The control module may instead be arranged to perform suchmanipulation not only by manipulating the simulated user in such imagesbut also by manipulating the operation of at least one of such exercisemodules based on such types, loads, and/or extents.

Embodiments of such apparatus aspects of the present invention mayinclude one or more of the following features, while configurationaland/or operational variations and/or modifications of the foregoingsystems also fall within the scope of the present invention.

The system may provide the task in the auditory, olfactory or tactilefeatures (i.e., the sounds, smells or sensations, respectively) of thevirtual environment with the visual feature (i.e., the images), whereeach feature may represent, connote or be associated with at least oneof multiple elements such as, e.g., a preset object, background, event,geographic region, activity, surrounding, and so on. The task mayinclude the simulated user which is at least one object or background tobe included in the images of the task of the story, scenery or game andwhich may be manipulatable or controllable by at least one of thefeatures of such exercises, users, or operations of the exercisemodules. The system (or its control module) may simulate only one ofsuch users into a single simulated user, only one of the users intomultiple simulated users, multiple users as a single simulated user,multiple users into multiple simulated users each simulating only one ofthe users, and the like.

The exercise may include voluntary or involuntary physical or electricalactivities of muscles of the users, leading to improvement orenhancement of a muscle tone, to an increase in a muscle mass or musclevolume, to a reduction in his or her weight, to an increased physicalstamina, and the like. The standard exercise modules may be installed inthe different locations so as to prevent each user from accessing bothof the standard exercise modules without physically moving from one toanother location. The standard exercise modules may directly couple toeach other or, alternatively, indirectly couple to each other throughthe control module. At least one of the standard exercise modules may(or not) be synchronized with another of the modules based on at leastone of the features. All (or at least two) of different exercise modulesmay be disposed in different locations. In the alternative, all (or atleast two) of different exercise modules may be disposed in the samelocations.

The images for the task may be a single still picture an entire portionof which is displayed on the visual unit, a single still picture withmultiple portions each displayed on the visual unit, a series of stillpictures, or a video clip. The visual features may include at least onevisual aspect such as, e.g., a shape, a size, a content, a color, abrightness, a contrast, a sharpness, a zoom, and a view angle of theimage, a distance of portraying the image, temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, or variations of any of the above, andso on. The visual features may include at least one visual aspect suchas, e.g., a shape or size of the object (or background) or variationsthereof provided in different view angles or distances, contents carriedby the object (or background), color or brightness thereof, contrast orsharpness thereof, zoom and view angles thereof, and so on. The visualunit may acquire the images by storing such and then retrieving such, byreceiving the images from the control module, by obtaining the imagesfrom an external source such as, e.g., the user, other persons, aninternet, a broadcast, an external storage, and/or game console throughwire or wirelessly, or by synthesizing (or composing) the images foritself. The visual unit may repeat at least a portion of such images ina preset sequence, randomly or based on another sequence at least partlydetermined by at least one of such features. The visual unit may defineat least one image domain on which such images may be displayed andwhich may consist of a single portion, a pair of portions or multipleportions. The visual unit may provide the images in black-and-white,multicolor or a mixture. The visual unit may zoom in or out of suchimages, vary their view angles, rotate the images with respect to arotation base, and the like. The visual unit may form such images byacquiring the object and background simultaneously, by acquiring theobject and background independently and superposing one onto the other,by acquiring one of the object and background followed by synthesizingthe other and composing the object and background, and the like. Thevisual unit may form the images by acquiring the simulated user and therest of such elements simultaneously, by acquiring the simulated userand the rest of such elements independently and then superposing oneover the other, by acquiring one of the simulated user and the rest ofthe elements, synthesizing the other, and then composing the object andbackground, and the like. The visual unit may be disposed on theexercise module, on the control module, away from the user, to be wornby the user over or around at least one of his or her body part, or tobe carried by the user. The visual unit may be incorporated into orprovided as a wearable article such as, e.g., glasses, goggles, orhelmets. The visual unit may display the object (or background) in aperspective of the user or in another perspective defined away from theuser. The images may portray the object or background as may beperceived by the user or, in the alternative, the images may ratherportray the object or background including the simulated user in theanother perspective of a third party. The control and/or output modulesmay vary the perspective during the exercise based on at least one ofthe features. The output and/or control modules may zoom in or out ofthe images while maintaining or changing the perspective based on atleast one of the features. The control module may provide the simulateduser by animating an appearance of the user, by adjusting a size of theuser, by selecting one of prestored multiple simulated users, and thelike.

The output module includes at least one auditory unit to provide thesounds. The system may include at least two auditory units each capableof playing such sounds to each user simultaneously performing the same,similar or different exercises. The auditory features may include, e.g.,a volume or loudness of the sounds, their tone, a balance when theauditory unit includes multiple speakers, a frequency of the sounds,their frequency distribution, their direction, temporal or spatialdistributions, characteristics or variations of such sounds, and so on.The auditory unit may acquire the sounds by storing and retrieving such,by receiving the sounds from the control module, by obtaining the soundsthrough external sources including the users, an internet, a broadcast,an external storage, and/or the external game console either by wire orwirelessly, or by synthesizing or composing the sounds. The auditoryunit may repeat at least a portion of the sounds in a preset sequence,randomly or based on a sequence at least partly decided by at least oneof such features. The sounds may be real sounds, abstract sounds, ortheir mixture. The sounds may be a voice, a conversation, music, soundsof the animal or plant, sounds from or generated by the object,synthesized or composed sounds, and their mixture. The sounds may be ina mono or stereo mode. The auditory unit may provide the sounds asacquired or retrieved, with or without modifying at least one of theauditory features, by synthesizing or composing the sound, and the like.The auditory unit may include at least one cone-drive speaker,piezoelectric speaker, or electrostatic speaker. The auditory unit maybe disposed on the exercise or control module, spaced away from theuser, carried by the user, worn by the user over or around at least oneof his or her ears or body parts, and the like. The auditory unit may beincorporated into or formed as a wearable article such as a helmet, anearphone, a headphone, and the like.

The output module may also include at least one olfactory unit which mayprovide the smells. The olfactory feature may include a type of thesmells, an intensity of the smells, a temporal or spatial distribution,characteristics, or variations thereof, and the like. The olfactory unitmay include at least one storage storing at least one substance for thesmells and may dispense the substance to create the virtual environment.The olfactory unit may include multiple storages each storing asubstance for preset smell, may dispense a mixture from at least two ofthe substances for the virtual environment, may dispense the mixture ofdifferent substances in a preset order or randomly, and the like. Suchan olfactory unit may include at least one dispenser which manipulatesthe substance to be discharged from the storage, where the dispenser mayinclude therein at least one wick, nozzle or evaporator. The olfactoryunit may give off the smells in a preset order, randomly, or based on atleast one of the features. The olfactory unit may dispense the smells toa space adjacent to a portion of the body part of the user, where theportion may be an entire area around the nose of the user, a spacecovering an upper torso of the user, and the like. Such an olfactoryunit may be disposed away from the user, carried by the user, or worn bythe user near or around his or her nose.

The output module may include at least one tactile unit which mayprovide the sensations. The sensations may include a mechanicalsensation, an air flow, heat, coldness, electrical sensation, and thelike. The tactile unit may repeat the sensations in a preset order,randomly, based on at least one of the features, and the like. Thetactile features may include mechanical, thermal, optical, or electricalproperties of at least one portion of the exercise module or,alternatively, the properties sensed by the user away from the exercisemodule. The tactile unit may have at least one actuator which providesdifferent sensations at a contact between the user and exercise moduleby changing the mechanical property of the exercise module at a pointcontacting the user, where the mechanical properties may be, e.g., anelasticity, a modulus, a stiffness, a deformability, a bulk structure, aroughness, a surface structure, and the like. The tactile unit mayinclude at least one air pump for generating an air flow to the user,where such mechanical properties may include an air flow rate, an airvelocity, temporal or spatial distributions, characteristics, orvariations thereof, and the like. The tactile unit may include at leastone heater for irradiating heat (or infrared) rays to the user, forheating the part of the exercise module, for heating the air flow, andthe like, where the thermal properties may include a temperature of thepart of the exercise module or flow of air, a heat flux rate thereof ortherethrough, a position of the heater relative to the user, temporaland/or spatial distributions, characteristics, and/or variationsthereof, and the like. The tactile unit may be provided to be disposedaway from the user, to be worn by the user over or around at least aportion of his or her body, to be carried by the user, and the like.

The system (or its control module) may allow transfer of the taskfeature only from one to the other of the standard exercise modules,between the standard exercise modules, and the like. Such a system (orits control module) may allow the transfer wirelessly or by wire,through control module or between other modules, and the like. Thesystem (or its control module) may perform the transfer without alteringthe task feature (i.e., a simple transfer) or, in the alternative, byaltering or converting the task feature based upon the relation (i.e.,an equivalent conversion). The relation may be defined between at leastfeature of the exercises and that of the task, between at least onefeature of such exercises and the goal and/or stages of the task,between at least one feature of the users and that of the task, betweenat least one feature of the users and the goal and/or stages of thetask, and the like. The relation may be defined between at least onefeature of the operation and at least one of the features of the task,between at least one feature of the operation and the goal and/or stagesof the task, and the like. The relation may be maintained constantduring the exercises, may change during the exercises at least partlybased upon at least one of the features, may account for physicalfatigue of the users which may be reflected by the duration of theexercises and/or load, and the like.

The control module may be disposed in only one of the locations or, inthe alternative, may be disposed in a location which may be differentfrom such locations of the standard exercise modules. The control modulemay communicate with at least one of the standard exercise modules (orat least one of the users) wirelessly or by wire, may also communicatewith at least one of such visual units wirelessly or through wire, andthe like. The control module may receive at least one of the featuresfrom at least one another of the modules of the system and/or at leastone of the users through wire or wirelessly, may transmit at least oneof the features to at least one another of the modules of the systemand/or at least one of the users by wire or wirelessly. The network maycover the locations of a single city (or different cities) or those of asingle country (or different countries). The network may encompass thelocations of the same time zone or different time zones.

The system may operatively couple with at least one external visual unitcapable of displaying at least a portion of the images thereon. Theexternal visual unit may operatively couple to the output and/or controlmodules through wire or wirelessly in order to supplement or replace atleast a portion of the modules. The external visual unit may be a visualdevice including the CRT, LCD, OLED, IOLED, PDP or any screen fordisplaying the images in the black-and-white or color mode, whereexamples of the device may include a stationary or portable audiovisualdevice including at least one screen (e.g., a DVD player, a TV, and thelike), a portable data processing device with at least one screen (e.g.,a PDA, a data organizer, a laptop computer, and the like), a portablecommunication device including at least one screen (e.g., a cellularphone), and the like. The system may operatively couple with at leastone external game console for providing at least a portion of the task.The external game console may operatively couple with the output and/orcontrol modules by wire or wirelessly in order to supplement or replaceat least a portion of such modules. The external game console mayprovide the task of the game in signals where the control module maygenerate the images for the task or, in the alternative, to provide thetask in the images so that the control module may relay the images tothe output module. Such an external game console may be a game deviceincluding at least one storage and at least one processor, where thestorage may store algorithms for the task of the game, while theprocessor may execute the algorithms to provide the game to the user.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided to participateat least two exercising users in at least one task of a story, ascenery, or a video (or computer) game each defining at least one taskgoal and provided in images of at least one virtual environment whileallowing the exercising users to manipulate at least one feature of theimages and to compete each other for the task goal at least partly basedon at least one of at least two exercises performed by the users.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a methodincludes such steps of: exercising a first user on, with or against afirst standard exercise module of an exercise system which isincorporated in a first location and arranged to facilitate the firstuser to consume energy by performing first exercise provided by thefirst standard exercise module (to be referred to as the “firstexercising”); exercising a second user simultaneously with the firstuser on, with or against a second standard exercise module disposed in asecond location and is also arranged to facilitate the second user toconsume energy by performing second exercise provided by the secondstandard exercise module, where the second location is different fromthe first location (to be referred to as the “second exercising”);arranging and disposing at least two visual units each providing anentire portion of the images in a single view angle of each of the usersuser who simultaneously perform such exercises and each disposed withina viewable distance therefrom (to be referred to as the “firstarranging”); displaying the images for the task on each of such visualunits (which is to be referred to as the “first displaying”); monitoringat least one feature directly or indirectly related to at least one ofthe first and second exercises (to be referred to as the “firstmonitoring”); relating the first and second exercises to each other atleast partly based upon at least one preset relation (to be referred toas the “first relating”); and manipulating at least one feature of theimages at least partly based upon the relation and the monitoredfeature, thereby allowing the at least one of the users to competeanother in such images of the task for the task goal through theexercises which are simultaneously performed by the users (to bereferred to as the “first manipulating”). The above steps of monitoringto manipulating may be replaced by such steps of: monitoring at leastone feature directly or indirectly related to both of the first andsecond exercises (to be referred to as the “second monitoring”); thefirst relating; and manipulating at least one feature of the images atleast partly based on the relation and the monitored feature, therebyallowing the users to compete each other in the images for the task goalthrough the exercises simultaneously performed by the users (to bereferred to as the “second manipulating”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; arranging and disposing at least two visual units eachproviding different portions of the images in multiple view angles ofeach of the users simultaneously performing the exercises and eachdisposed in a viewable distance (to be referred to as the “secondarranging”); the first displaying; the first monitoring; the firstrelating; and the first manipulating. The above steps of monitoring tomanipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the second monitoring; thefirst relating; and the second manipulating.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the first arranging; simulating at least one of the users asat least one simulated user (to be referred to as the “firstsimulating”); including the simulated user in the images of the virtualenvironment for at least one of such users (to be referred to as the“first including”); displaying the images including the simulated useron at least one of the visual units (to be referred to as the “seconddisplaying”); the first monitoring; the first relating; and manipulatingat least one feature of the simulated user at least partly based on therelation and monitored feature, thereby allowing at least one of theusers to compete another user in the images of the task for its goalduring the exercises simultaneously performed by such users (to bereferred to as the “third manipulating”). The above steps of simulatingto manipulating may be replaced by the steps of: simulating each user asat least one simulated user (to be referred to as the “secondsimulating”); including the simulated users in the images (which will bereferred to as the “second including” hereinafter); displaying suchimages including the simulated users on the visual units (to be referredto as the “third displaying”); the first monitoring; the first relating;and manipulating at least one feature of the simulated users at leastpartly based on the relation and monitored feature, thereby allowing theusers to compete each other in the images of the task for the task goalduring the exercises simultaneously performed by the users (to bereferred to as the “fourth manipulating”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the second arranging; the first simulating; the firstincluding; the second displaying; the first monitoring; the firstrelating; and the third manipulating. The above steps of simulating tomanipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the second simulating; thesecond including; the third displaying; the first monitoring; the firstrelating; and the fourth manipulating.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided to participateat least two exercising users in at least one task of a story, ascenery, or a video (or computer) game each defining at least one presetgoal and provided in images of at least one virtual environment whilemanipulating at least one of multiple exercises performed by the usersat least partly based upon at least one of multiple exercises performedby at least one of the users.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, a methodincludes the steps of: the first exercising; the second exercising; thefirst arranging; the first displaying; monitoring at least one featuredirectly or indirectly related to the first exercise which is performedby the first user (to be referred to as the “third monitoring”); thefirst relating; and manipulating at least one feature of the secondexercise performed by the second user at least partly based upon therelation and monitored feature, thereby allowing the first user tocompete with the second user in such images for the task by the firstexercise (to be referred to as the “fifth manipulating”). The abovesteps of monitoring to manipulating may be replaced by such steps of:monitoring at least one feature directly or indirectly related to eachof the exercises performed by each user (to be referred to as the“fourth monitoring”); the first relating; and manipulating at least onefeature of the first and second exercises at least partly based on therelation and monitored features of the second and first exercises,respectively, thereby allowing the users to compete each other in theimages of the task for the goal during the exercises simultaneouslyperformed by the users (to be referred to as the “sixth manipulating”).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such amethod may include the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the second arranging; the first displaying; the thirdmonitoring; the first relating; and the fifth manipulating. Such stepsof monitoring to manipulating may be replaced by the steps of: thefourth monitoring; the first relating; and the sixth manipulating.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, amethod has the steps of: the first exercising; the second exercising;the first arranging; the first simulating; the first including; thesecond displaying; the third monitoring; the first relating; andmanipulating at least one feature of the second exercise performed bythe second user at least partly based on the relation and monitoredfeature, thereby allowing the first user to compete with the second userthrough the simulated user in the images through the first exercise (tobe referred to as the “seventh manipulating”). Such steps of simulatingto manipulating may further be replaced by the steps of: the secondsimulating; the second including; the third displaying; the fourthmonitoring; the first relating; and then manipulating at least onefeature of the first and second exercises at least partly based on therelation and monitored features of the second and first exercises,respectively, thereby allowing the users to compete each other by thesimulated users in the images for the task goal through the exercisessimultaneously performed by the users (which will be referred to as the“eighth manipulating”).

In another exemplary embodiment of the same aspect, a method includesthe steps of: the first exercising; the second exercising; the secondarranging; the first simulating; the first including; the seconddisplaying; the third monitoring; the first relating; and the seventhmanipulating. The steps of simulating to manipulating may further bereplaced by the steps of: the second simulating; the second including;the third displaying; the fourth monitoring; the first relating; and theeighth manipulating.

In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for competingat least two users who perform exercises in different locations witheach other for at least one preset goal of at least one task of a story,scenery or video (or computer) game each having the goal and provided inimages of a virtual environment at least partly based on at least onefeature of at least one of the exercises.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; operatively coupling such standard exercise modules to eachother via a local or global network encompassing the locations (to bereferred to as the “first coupling”); the first arranging; the firstdisplaying; the first monitoring through such a network; the firstrelating; and the first manipulating via the network. The steps ofmonitoring to manipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the secondmonitoring through the network; the first relating; and the secondmanipulating via the network. Such steps of monitoring to manipulatingmay be replaced by the steps of: the third monitoring via the network;the first relating; and the fifth manipulating via the network. Suchsteps of monitoring to manipulating may be replaced by the steps of: thefourth monitoring via the network; the first relating; and the sixthmanipulating through the network.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the first coupling; the second arranging; the firstdisplaying; the first monitoring through the network; the firstrelating; and the first manipulating through the network. The abovesteps of monitoring to manipulating may be replaced by such steps of:the second monitoring via the network; the first relating; and thesecond manipulating via the network. The above steps of monitoring tomanipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the third monitoringthrough the network; the first relating; and the fifth manipulatingthrough the network. Such steps of monitoring to manipulating may bereplaced by the steps of: the fourth monitoring through the network; hefirst relating; and the sixth manipulating through the network.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the first coupling; the first arranging; the firstsimulating; the first including; the second displaying; the firstmonitoring via the network; the first relating; and the thirdmanipulating through the network. Such steps of simulating tomanipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the second simulating; thesecond including; the third displaying; the first monitoring via thenetwork; the first relating; and the fourth manipulating through thenetwork. The above steps of simulating to manipulating may be replacedby the steps of: the first simulating; the first including; the seconddisplaying; the third monitoring via the network; the first relating;and the seventh manipulating through the network. Such steps ofsimulating to manipulating may further be replaced by the steps of: thesecond simulating; the second including; the third displaying; thefourth monitoring through the network; the first relating; and then theeighth manipulating through the network.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention, such amethod includes the steps of: the first exercising; the secondexercising; the first coupling; the second arranging; the firstsimulating; the first including; the second displaying; the firstmonitoring through the network; the first relating; and the thirdmanipulating through the network. The steps of simulating tomanipulating may be replaced by the steps of: the second simulating; thesecond including; the third displaying; the first monitoring through thenetwork; the first relating; and the fourth manipulating through thenetwork. Such steps of simulating to simulating may be replaced by thesteps of: the first simulating; the first including; the seconddisplaying; the third monitoring through the network; the firstrelating; and the seventh manipulating through the network. Such stepsof simulating to simulating may be replaced by the steps of: the secondsimulating; the second including; the third displaying; the fourthmonitoring through the network; the first relating; and the eighthmanipulating via the network.

Embodiments of such method aspects of the present invention may includeone or more of the following features, while configurational oroperational variations and/or modifications of the foregoing methodsalso fall within the scope of the present invention.

Such defining the goal may include the step of: arranging one of theusers to perform the task against another user performing the exercisedefining the same, similar or different type and/or extent on, with,and/or against another standard exercise module. The defining the goalmay include at least one of the steps of: fighting (or opposing, hidingfrom) at least one opponent manipulated by the task; overcoming (oropposing, hiding from) at least one obstacle provided by the task;proceeding through the obstacles; seeking at least one preset objecthidden in the task; or assembling at least one preset shape frommultiple objects provided thereby.

Such simulating may include one of the steps of: simulating the singleuser into one or multiple simulated users included in the images for thetask; simulating each of at least two users as the single simulated user(or each of at least two simulated users); simulating each of at leasttwo but not all of the users into the single simulated user (or each ofat least two simulated users), and the like. Such simulating may includethe steps of: forming the simulated user as at least one object orbackground of the images; and changing at least one visual feature ofthe object or background at least partly based on at least one of thefeatures of the exercise, user, or operation. The simulating may havethe steps of: forming the simulated user as at least one object (orbackground) in the images; and changing at least one feature of theobject (or background) with respect to other objects (or backgrounds) ofthe images at least partly based on at least one of the features of theexercise, user, or operation while maintaining other visual features.The changing may include at least one of the steps of: changing a shapeor size of the simulated user; changing its color; changing its contrastor sharpness; changing its zoom; changing its view angle or distance;and changing its position. The changing may include at least one of thesteps of: moving the simulated user with respect to the background basedon at least one of the factors; varying a shape or size of the simulateduser based on at least one of the factors; or changing an orientation ofthe simulated user based upon at least one of the factors. The changingmay include at least one of the steps of: changing temporalcharacteristics of the visual feature; and varying its spatialcharacteristics. The simulating may include at least one of the stepsof: forming the simulated user as a living organism (e.g., a person,animal, plant, and the like); forming the simulated user as a nonlivingobject; forming the simulated user as a mixture of the living organismand nonliving object, and the like. The forming may include at least oneof the steps of: animating the simulated user after the user;synthesizing the simulated user using a preset program; selecting one ofthe simulated user from multiple simulated users, and the like. Thesimulating may also include one of the steps of: defining the simulateduser in a perspective of the user; forming the simulated user in aperspective defined away (or at a preset distance) from the user, andthe like. The simulating may include one of the steps of: maintaining aperspective depicting the simulated user throughout the task; changingthe perspective during at least a portion of the task; and constantlychanging the perspective during the task. The simulating may alsoinclude the step of: arranging the simulated user to walk, run, sprint,jump, throw, row, push, pull, turn, bend, rotate, swing, hit, and/orotherwise move based on at least one of the features. The simulating mayalso include at least one of the steps of: simulating at least onefeature of the user into the simulated user manipulated by the user;simulating at least one feature of another user into the simulated usermanipulated by the user, and the like.

The disposing may also include at least one of the steps of:incorporating at least a portion of the visual unit into the standardexercise module(s); coupling such a portion away from the standardexercise module(s); and disposing such a portion on a structuresupporting or enclosing the standard exercise module(s). The disposingmay also include at least one of the steps of: incorporating at least aportion of the visual unit into a wearable article such as glasses, agoggle, a helmet, a hat, a cap, a head band, and the like; releasablycoupling the wearable article with the user; releasably (or fixedly)coupling the article to a cloth of the user, and the like. The disposingmay include one of the steps of: disposing a single visual unit formultiple users; providing each of the users with at least one visualunit, and the like. The disposing may include one of the steps of:disposing the visual units of same shapes or sizes to the user(s); anddisposing the visual units of different shapes or sizes thereto.

Such coupling may have one of the steps of: directly coupling thestandard exercise modules; indirectly coupling the standard exercisemodules; coupling the standard modules through a provider which is not apart of the system, and the like. Such coupling may include the step of:coupling the standard exercise modules wirelessly or through wire. Themethod may include the steps of: placing the standard exercise modulesin the different (or geographically separate) locations; and preventingeach of the users from accessing both of the standard exercise moduleswithout having to physically move out from one to another of thelocations. Such a method may further include at least one of the stepsof: encompassing such locations of a single city (or different cities)by the global network; encompassing such locations of a single country(or different countries) by the global network, encompassing thelocations of a single time zone by the global network; and encompassingthe locations of different time zones.

The monitoring may include at least one of the steps of: monitoring atleast one feature of the user(s); monitoring at least one feature of theexercise(s); and monitoring at least one feature of the operation of theexercise module(s). Such monitoring the user (or exercise, operation)feature may include at least one of the steps of: sensing at least onefactor of at least one type of the user(s) (or exercises, operations);sensing at least one factor of at least one extent of the user(s) (orexercises, operations), and the like. The monitoring may include atleast one of the steps of: sensing at least one of the features awayfrom the user(s); sensing at least one of the features by contacting theuser(s), and the like.

The manipulating the task (or its feature) may include at least one ofthe steps of: changing at least a portion of the images only based on atleast one feature of the exercises, operations or users; changing such aportion of such images with respect to the rest of the elements of theimages based thereon; and varying the perspective, view angle, ordistance related to the images. The manipulating the task (or itsfeature) may include at least one of the steps of: varying the simulateduser only based upon at least one feature of the exercises, operationsor users; changing the simulated user relative to the rest of theelements of the images based thereupon; and changing the perspective,view angle, or distance related with the simulated user. Themanipulating the exercises (or feature thereof may include at least oneof the steps of: requiring the users to maintain the posture during theexercises (or task); requiring the users to vary the posture during theexercise (or task) based on at least one feature of the users, task,operations, and user input. The manipulating the exercise (or itsfeature) may include at least one of the steps of: maintaining the loadduring the exercises (or task); changing the load during the exercises(or task) based on at least one feature of the user, tasks, operation,or user input, and so on. The manipulating the exercise (or featurethereof may include at least one of the steps of: varying the load basedon a fatigue of the users; and varying the load based on at least onefeature of the task without considering the fatigue. The manipulatingthe operation (or its feature) may include at least one of the steps of:controlling a configuration, arrangement or disposition of the actuatingpart based on at least one feature of the exercises, users or task;controlling the load of the standard exercise modules based on at leastone feature thereof, and the like. The manipulating the operation (orits feature) may include at least one of the steps of: maintaining theload of the standard exercise modules during the exercises (or task);and then varying the load during the exercises. The manipulating theoperation (or feature thereof) may include at least one of the steps of:performing the manipulating manually; performing the manipulating basedon at least one feature of the task, user, and exercise; and performingthe manipulating based on the user input.

The method may include the steps of: providing at least one auditoryunit; and playing sounds (or at least one auditory feature) during suchexercises. The method may include at least one of the steps of:providing at least one auditory feature (or sounds) related with thetask, users, exercises, or operations; providing at least one olfactoryfeature (or smells) related to the task, users, exercises, oroperations; further providing at least one tactile feature (orsensations) related to the task, users, exercises, or operations, and soon. The method may also include one of the steps of: synchronizing theauditory, olfactory, or tactile features with the images; arranging theauditory, olfactory, or tactile feature independent of the images, andthe like. The method may also include the steps of: coupling the systemto at least one external visual device; and utilizing visual capacity ofthe device to display at least a portion of the images. The method mayinclude the steps of: coupling the system to at least one external gameconsole; and utilizing game generating capacity of the device to defineat least a portion of the task.

More product-by-process claims may be constructed by modifying theforegoing preambles of the apparatus (or system) claims and/or methodclaims and by appending thereto such bodies of the apparatus (or system)claims and/or method claims. In addition, such process claims mayinclude one or more of such features of the apparatus (or system) claimsand/or method claims of this invention.

As used herein, the term “exercise equipment” is synonymous to the term“fitness equipment” and refers to various prior art equipment which isprimarily intended to improve or enhance a muscle tone of an user, toincrease his or her muscle mass or volume, to force or facilitate theuser to reduce his or her weight, to increase physical stamina of theuser, and the like. To such ends, the “exercise equipment” typicallyforces or facilitates the user to consume energy by performing physicalwork on, with or against the equipment or by receiving physical orelectrical energy from the equipment in order to twitch his or hermuscles based thereon. Therefore, the “exercise equipment” within thescope of the invention does not refer to those prior art devicesprimarily intended to engage the user in playing physically simulatedgames or video (or computer) games, although such “exercise equipment”of this invention may be modified to allow the user to engage in suchsimulated or video (or computer) games while improving or enhancing themuscle tone of the user, increasing the muscle mass or volume of theuser, forcing or facilitating the user to reduce his or her weight, orincreasing physical stamina of the user. Accordingly, such “exerciseequipment” of the present invention may refer to various prior artequipment examples of which may include, but not be limited to,cardio-exercise equipment, weight training equipment such as, e.g.,abdominal machines and stretching machines, and the like. Examples ofthe cardio-exercise equipment may include, but not be limited to,treadmills, running machines, stair climbers, exercise cycles and/orbikes, rowing machines, combinations of such, and so on, whereasexamples of the weight training equipment may include, but not limitedto, various home gyms, weight machines, curls, extensions, racks such assquat racks, presses, crunches, benches which include incline anddecline types, extension benches, bench racks, weight benches, variousexercise chairs, leverages, dips, boards, and the like. In addition,such “exercise equipment” may include various prior art devices capableof delivering the physical energy to the user in order to improve orenhance the muscle tone of the user, to increase his or her muscle massor volume, to force or facilitate the user to reduce his or her weight,or to increase physical stamina of the user. Such “exercise equipment”may also include various prior art devices capable of providingelectrical energy to the user in order to improve or enhance the muscletone of an user, to increase the muscle mass or volume, to force orfacilitate the user to reduce his or her weight, or to increase suchphysical stamina of the user.

An “exercise module” of an exercise system of this invention isgenerally similar or identical to the exercise equipment described inthe previous paragraph. More particularly, the “exercise module”corresponds to any of the above exercise equipment as well as anymodifications thereof according to various teachings as set forthherein. For example, the “exercise module” may refer to any prior artexercise equipment or, in the alternative, may incorporate thereinto oneor more of various units of the output and/or control modules of theexercise system as set forth herein. It is appreciated, however, thateach “exercise module” always includes at least one actuating part whichis typically designed to contact a body part of the user and to receivephysical energy from the user therewith and that such an actuating partmay be fabricated as a track, a pedal, a weight, a lever, a handle, abelt, a pad, and the like. More particularly, the track is arranged totranslate and to allow the user to perform physical exercise of walkingor running on such a track while consuming energy during the exercise,while the pedal is arranged to couple with a preset load and to rotateabout an axis of rotation against the load when the user performsphysical exercise of rotating the pedal while consuming energy duringsuch exercise. The weight is arranged to translate vertically ortransversely and to be moved as the user performs physical exercise oflifting the weight while consuming energy during such exercise, whilethe lever is arranged to couple with a preset load and to pivot about acentral point against the load as the user performs physical exercise ofdisplacing, reciprocating or otherwise pivoting the lever whileconsuming energy during the exercise. The belt is arranged to enclose atleast one body part of the user thereabout and to translate orreciprocate to allow the body part of the user to perform physicalexercise of vibration while consuming energy during such exercise, andthe pad is arranged to couple to a preset load and to translate, rotate,pivot, deform, or otherwise move against the load for allowing the userto perform exercise of translation, rotation, pivoting, deformation orother movements during such exercise. The handle is arranged to couplewith a preset load and/or the above weight, lever, or pad and totranslate, reciprocate, rotate, pivot, deform or otherwise move againstsuch a load in order to allow the user to perform physical exercise oftranslation, rotation, reciprocation, pivoting or other movements of thelever while consuming energy during the exercise. It is noted that theactuating part may be an electrode through which electrical energy issupplied to the user and to twitch the muscle of the user while forcingor facilitating the user to consume the energy.

The term “exercise” refers to any voluntary or involuntary activities ofvarious muscles of the user which consume energy of the user and whichlead to improvement or enhancement of a muscle tone of the user, to anincrease in a muscle mass or volume of the user, to reduction in theweight, or to an increased physical stamina of the user. In general,various characteristics of the “exercise” is typically determined by theexercise module or, more specifically, operations of the exercisemodule.

As used herein, the term “user inputs” refers to various inputs whichare supplied by the user onto various modules of the system of thisinvention in order to manipulate various operations of such modules suchas the exercise, output, and control modules. The user may supply such“user inputs” by applying mechanical inputs to various input units suchas, e.g., conventional keys, key pads, touch screens, track pads, trackballs, track sticks or rods, mouses, handles, joysticks, pedals, and thelike. The user may supply the “user inputs” by applying mechanical,thermal, electric or magnetic signals to the modules of the system, bygenerating movements of his or her body part which are monitored by atleast one of such modules of the system, by generating voice, face orbody signals which may also be monitored or sensed by at least one ofsuch modules, and the like.

As used herein, “features of operation” (or “operation features”)include “types of operation” (or “operation types”) and “extents ofoperation” (or “operation extents”) and are attributed to and/ordetermined by a specific exercise module of the system. Such “operationtypes” may be affected or determined by various factors which mayinclude, but not limited to, a shape or size of the actuating part ofthe exercise module, a position of the actuating part in the exercisemodule, a contacting mode between a body part of an user and theactuating part during an operation of the exercise module, a movement(i.e., a direction, a displacement, or a sequence) of the actuating partduring the operation, and so on. The “operation extents” may also beaffected or determined by various factors which may include, but notlimited to, a load required for operating the actuating part, a durationof the operation, an amount of energy provided to the user by theexercise module, a mathematical function of the load, duration, and/oramount, and the like.

As used herein, “features of exercise” (or “exercise features”) include“types of exercise” (or “exercise types”), “extents of exercise” (or“exercise extents”) and result of such operation features. The “exercisetypes” may be affected or determined by various factors which mayinclude, but not be limited to, a posture of an user required for aspecific exercise, an orientation of the user therefor, a movement ofthe user required therefor, a body part of the user required orrecruited therefor, a body part of the user contacting the actuatingpart of the exercise module therefor, a body part of the user to whichmechanical or electrical energy is supplied therefor, and so on. The“exercise extents” may be determined or affected by various factorswhich may include, but not be limited to, the load which is imposed tosuch exercise by the exercise module, a duration of the exercise, anamount of energy provided to or consumed by the user during theexercise, a number of calories measured or estimated to be consumed bythe user, a product of the load and duration, a temporal integration ofthe load over the duration, a mathematical function of the load,duration, and/or amount, and the like.

As used herein, “user features” include “user types” and “user extents”and are related to or affected by a period of a specific exerciseperformed by an user, thereby reflecting a physical fatigue of the userwhen desired. The “user types” may be affected or determined by avariety of factors of the user which may include, but not be limited to,a height, a weight, a body fat percent, a sex, an age, a race, a healthor disease status, a handicap, a physical and/or physiological conditionbefore, during or after an exercise (i.e., body temperature, systolic,diastolic or other cardiovascular conditions such as a blood flow rate,blood pressure, heart rate, or ECG, a respiratory condition such as arespiratory rate, a respiratory air flow rate, and a pressure along anair way, an EEG, an EMG, and the like), an orientation of the userneeded for the exercise, a posture of the user needed therefor, amovement of the user needed therefor, a body part of the user neededtherefor, a body part of the user in contact with the exercise module(or its actuating part) therefor, a body part of the user to whichmechanical or electrical energy is supplied, and so on. The “userextents” may similarly be affected or determined by various factorswhich may include, but not limited to, the physical or physiologicalconditions of the user before, during or after the exercise, a durationof the exercise, an amount of energy consumed by or provided to the userduring the exercise, a mathematical function of the load, duration,and/or amount, and the like.

It is to be understood that the above “load” generally representsresistance to the operation of the actuating part of the exercisemodule, resistance to the exercise, and the like. Such a “load” may thenbe represented in various means examples of which may include, but notbe limited to, a mass of at least a portion of the actuating part, amass of a weight coupling with the actuating part, an angle of theactuating part with respect to the user and/or exercise module, a springconstant or elasticity of at least a portion of the actuating part, anelectrical property of an electric element functionally related to theactuating part, a viscosity of at least a portion of the actuating part,a viscosity of a dash pot (or a viscous element) coupling with theactuating part, a speed and/or acceleration of the actuating part, adisplacement of the actuating part, and the like. In this context, sucha “load” is deemed as a variable and/or a parameter determining anamount of energy which is to be consumed by the user in order toconsummate a unit displacement or deformation of the actuating part ofthe exercise module and/or a specific body part of the user. It is to beunderstood that this “load” may also be quantified by various amounts ofenergy which may be required for the user to walk or run a unit distancewith respect to the actuating part of the exercise module, which may berequired to translate, rotate, pivot, deform or bend at least a portionof the actuating part by a preset linear or angular length, which may beneeded to rotate, pivot, bend or deform at least a portion of theactuating part about a preset angle, and so on. This “load” may beadjusted by various means examples of which may include, but not belimited to, adjusting the speed or acceleration of the actuating part ofthe exercise module, adjusting the angle of the actuating part, the massof the weight or at least a portion of the movable or deformable portionof the actuating part, the spring constant or modulus thereof, theviscosity of at least a portion thereof, a length of such a movable ordeformable portion, a curvilinear trajectory of the movable ordeformable portion, and the like. In general, the “load” is defined insuch a manner that the user has to consume a greater amount of energy asthe “load” increases.

As used herein, “task features” include “primary task features” and“secondary task features” and are defined by or in a specific task. The“primary task features” include “primary task types” and “primary taskextents.” Such “primary task types” may be affected or determined byvarious factors which may include, but be limited to, a type of a goalof the task, a number of stages defined therein, levels or skills neededto complete a stage of the task, means of accomplishing the task goal,means of proceeding through such stages, characteristics (i.e.,configuration, arrangement, or disposition) of a simulated user (only ifthe system defines at least one simulated user), means of manipulatingsuch a simulated user, and the like. The “primary task extents” may beaffected or determined by various factors which may include, but notlimited to, a stage of the task in which the user or simulated user iscurrently disposed, a level or skill needed in the current stage, astatus of the user or simulated user, a duration of the user orsimulated user engaged in the current stage or in the task, and thelike. The “secondary task features” may similarly include “secondarytask types” and “secondary task extents.” The “secondary task types” maybe affected or determined by various factors which may include, but notbe limited to, a type of images or visual feature (i.e., a single stillpicture an entire or only a portion of which is to be displayed, aseries of still pictures, a video clip, and the like), a mode of suchimages or visual feature (i.e., black and white, grey-scale,color-scale), a dimension of such images or visual feature (i.e.,two-dimensional or three-dimensional), and so on. The “secondary taskextents” may be affected or determined by various factors which mayinclude, but not be limited to, a portion selected from multipleportions of a still picture, a still picture selected from a series ofstill pictures or video clip, a sequence of selecting a next portion ofthe still picture, a sequence of selecting a next still picture in aseries of still pictures or video clip, a speed or a gap betweendisplaying the portions or pictures, a viewing area or a zoom, a viewangle or perspective angle of the picture or video clip, a basis of theview or perspective angle, and so on. It is understood that the “taskfeatures” are to collectively refer to the “primary task features” andthe “secondary task features” unless otherwise specified, that the “tasktypes” are to collectively refer to the “primary task types” and the“secondary task types” unless otherwise specified, and that the “taskextents” similarly collectively refer to the “primary task extents” andthe “secondary task extents” unless otherwise specified.

The term “location” is to mean a three-dimensional space which includesat least one entrance or door. The space of a “single location” may beopen or include at least one partition which does not block an user fromgetting therearound or thereacross, whereby the user may access everycorner of the “location.” Therefore, when multiple exercise modules aredisposed in a “single location,” all of the exercise modules are to bephysically accessible to the user, without requiring the user to get outof the “location” through one of its doors and then to enter the same“location” through another door in order to access another exercisemodule disposed in a different corner of that “location.” In contrary,“different locations” are to mean three-dimensional spaces which do notshare any common entrance or door therebetween. Accordingly, when theexercise modules are disposed in “different locations,” the user cannotphysically access all exercise modules from one “location.” Rather, heor she has to get out of one “location” and then to enter a different“location” in order to access the exercise module disposed in thatdifferent “location.”

As used herein, a “game” collectively refers to what is conventionallyknown as computer or video games. The “game” is typically played by aspecific program, e.g., by generating two- or three-dimensional imagesusing a visual unit based on the program and then electricallymanipulating at least a portion of such images so as to attain a presetgoal specifically defined by the “game.” The “game” incorporates in suchimages at least one (but preferably) multiple animated and/or imaginaryobjects or backgrounds such that an user of an exercise system of thisinvention may manipulate at least one of such objects or backgrounds toaccomplish the goal of the “game” according to various preset rulesdefined therefor. The “game” is typically arranged to allow the user tocompete with the program or to allow multiple users to compete for thesame goal, where examples of such “games” may include, but not limitedto, prior art video games in which the user has to fight one or multipleanimated or imaginary opponents manipulated by the program or anotheruser, prior art video games in which the user has to proceed throughanimated or imaginary obstacles provided or manipulated by the programsor another user, conventional video games in which the user has toidentify or find preset animated or imaginary objects hidden by theprogram or another user, prior art computerized card games in which theuser plays against the program or another user using animated orimaginary cards, prior art computerized board games in which the userplays against the program or another user on animated or imaginaryboards with their animated or imaginary pieces, conventionalcomputerized puzzles in which the user plays against the program oranother user using animated or imaginary pieces, and the like. Examplesof the “game” may also include computerized equivalents of any otherconventional sport games, war games, card games, board games, puzzles,and the like. In each of the above examples, the user can preferablymanipulate at least one object or background incorporated into suchimages so as to attain the goal of the “game,” where the manipulatableor controllable object or background will be referred to as a “simulateduser” hereinafter. When desirable, the “game” may be arranged tosynchronize the images with sounds for various purposes such as, e.g.,assisting the user, audibly depicting certain stages, events, and/orlandmarks of the “game,” enhancing audiovisual quality of the “game,”and the like. When the exercise system of this invention is synchronizedwith the “game” and the user is to play the “game” while performing theexercise, the “game” is to correspond to the task of the exerciseperformed by the user, whereas the goal of the “game” is to correspondto the goal of the task, i.e., to accomplish the preset goal of the“game” by manipulating the simulated user of the images according to thepreset rules of the “game” against the rest of the animated or imaginaryobjects or backgrounds manipulated by the program or another user. The“game” or task may include any arbitrary number of stages therein. Forexample, the “game” may define a single stage in which the usermanipulates the simulated user for the task goal, may define multiplestages in which the user may proceed to a next stage only by achieving apreset goal defined in a current stage, and the like. The “game” maydefine a single or multiple goals and maintain such goals therethrough,through the operation of the exercise module, through exercise of theuser, and the like. Alternatively, the “game” may define a single goaland then change the goal therealong, through the operation of theexercise module, through exercise of the user, and the like.Alternatively, the “game” may define multiple goals, select one of suchgoals, and thereafter select another goal, through the operation of theexercise module, through exercise of the user. In another alternative,the “game” may define a single or multiple goals and then manipulate itsgoal at least partly based upon any of such features. Similarly, such a“game” may define a single or multiple objects (or backgrounds) andemploy such objects (or backgrounds) therethrough, through the operationof the exercise module, through exercise of the user, and the like. Inthe alternative, the “game” may define a preset number of the objects(or backgrounds) and thereafter vary a number or characteristics of theobjects (or backgrounds), during the operation of the exercise module,through exercise of the user, and so on. Alternatively, the “game” maydefine a preset number of objects (or backgrounds), select therefrom acertain number or characteristics of such objects (or backgrounds), andthereafter select another number or characteristics thereof, through theoperation of the exercise module, through exercise of the user, and thelike. In the alternative, the “game” may define a preset number ofobjects (or backgrounds) and then manipulate at least one of the objects(or backgrounds) at least partly based on any of the above features.

It is appreciated that the “game” within the scope of this invention areto provide such images including therein only those objects (orbackgrounds) which are either animated or arbitrary, but to not providesuch images including therein any objects (or backgrounds) which aremerely photographs or photographical versions of a real objects (orbackgrounds) present in a real environment, where the latter images willbe explained in greater detail below in conjunction with a “story” or a“scenery.” It is appreciated that the “game” of this invention is to beembodied differently from such prior art video or computer games ascommonly seen in prior art game consoles. More particularly, the “game”primarily distinguishes itself from the prior art video or computergames in that the simulated user included in the images of the “game”are to be manipulated at least partly based on at least one of variousfeatures of a preset task (i.e., the “game”), an user of the exercisesystem, at least one operation of an exercise module of the system, oran exercise provided by the exercise module, where all of such featuresare either directly or indirectly affected or determined by suchexercise performed by the user on, with or against the exercise modulethrough applying mechanical energy to the actuating part of the exercisemodule while allowing the user to consume energy during the exercise. Tothe contrary, the simulated user included in the images of the prior artvideo or computer games are manipulated entirely based on user inputsapplied thereonto by various body parts of the user and, moreimportantly, not based upon user inputs applied to the actuating part ofthe exercise module.

As used herein, a “story” is to collectively refer to images which areprovided sequentially and which generally correspond to prior artmovies, plays, shows, musicals, concerts, and the like, where the imagesof each of the “stories” as a whole define artistic (i.e., literary ormusical) themes and are arranged in artistic sequences. In general, sucha “story” within the scope of the present invention is to bedistinguished from the “game” in two major aspects. In one aspect, the“game” always includes therein at least one simulated user to bemanipulated based on at least one of various features of the task, user,exercise, or operation of an exercise module, while the “story” is tonot include therein any simulated user. Therefore, the user of the“story” can not manipulate any objects (or backgrounds) of such imagescontrary to the user of the “game” who can manipulate at least one ofsuch objects (or backgrounds) as set forth above. It is to be understoodthat, although the user of the “story” may not manipulate any objects(or backgrounds) in the images, the user may manipulate other featuresof the images such as, e.g., a view angle of the images, a speed ofdisplaying each images, a temporal gap between displaying such images, asequence of displaying the images or groups of such images, and thelike. In another aspect, the “game” always includes therein such objects(or backgrounds) which are animated or imaginary, while the “story” isto include only photographs or photographical versions of real objects(or backgrounds) present in a real environment. Within the scope of thisinvention, the images including not only the real object (or background)but also the animated or imaginary object (or background) are to bedeemed as the “story” as far as the images define the artistic themesand are arranged in the artistic sequence. When desirable, the “story”may be arranged to synchronize such images with sounds for variouspurposes such as, e.g., assisting the user, audibly depicting certainstages, events or landmarks of the “story,” enhancing audiovisualquality of the “story,” and the like. When the exercise system of thisinvention is synchronized with the “story” and the user is to view the“story” while performing the exercise, viewing such a “story” is tocorrespond to the task of his or her exercise, while the goal of the“story” is to correspond to the goal of the task of the user, i.e., toview a preset or entire portion of the “story” by manipulating variousfeatures of such the set forth in this paragraph. The “story” or taskmay include any arbitrary number of stages therein, where such stagesmay be formed as chapters, plots or parts, primarily based upon contentsor contexts thereof, time, and the like. Accordingly, the “story” mayinclude a single stage in which the user views only a portion or entireportion thereof depending upon various features, may have multiplestages in which the user is allowed to proceed to a next stage only uponachieving a preset goal defined for a stage, and so on. The “story” mayalso define a single or multiple goals and maintain the goalstherethrough, through the operation of the exercise module, throughexercise of the user, and so on. Alternatively, the “story” may define asingle goal and thereafter vary the goal, through the operation of theexercise module, through user's exercise, and so on. In the alternative,the “story” may set forth multiple goals, select one of the goals andthen select another goal, through the operation of the exercise module,or through exercise of the user. In another alternative, the “story” maydefine a single or multiple goals and thereafter manipulate its goal atleast partly based upon any of the features.

As used herein, a “scenery” is to collectively refer to images which areprovided sequentially and generally correspond to prior art visualarchives, documentaries, movies, and the like, where the images of eachof such “sceneries” define aesthetic themes as a whole and where suchimages are arranged in geographic sequences. Similar to the above“story,” a “scenery” within the scope of this invention is to be alsodistinguished from the “game” in two major aspects. In one aspect, the“game” always includes at least one simulated user to manipulate therest of the objects (or backgrounds) of such images therewith, while the“scenery” is to not include therein any simulated users. Therefore, theuser can not manipulate any objects (or backgrounds) of the images ofthe “scenery” contrary to the user of the “game” who manipulates atleast one of such objects (or backgrounds) as described above. It is tobe understood that, although the user of the “scenery” may notmanipulate any objects (or backgrounds) in the images, the user maymanipulate other features of the images such as, e.g., a view angle ofthe images, a speed of displaying each images, a temporal gap betweendisplaying the images, a sequence of displaying the images or groups ofmultiple images, and the like. In addition, the “scenery” mayincorporate at least one simulated user which may be manipulated basedupon various features while not changing any objects (or backgrounds)included in the images. In another aspect, the “game” always includestherein the above objects (or backgrounds) which are either animated orimaginary, while the “story” is to include therein only photographs orphotographical versions of real objects (or backgrounds) present in areal environment. Within the scope of this invention, the images whichmay include not only the real object (or background) but also theanimated or imaginary object (or background) are to be deemed as the“scenery” as long as such images may define the aesthetic theme and arearranged in the geographic sequence. When desired, the “scenery” may bearranged to synchronize the images with sounds for similar purposes suchas, e.g., assisting the user, audibly depicting certain stages, events,and/or landmarks of the “scenery,” enhancing audiovisual quality of the“scenery,” and the like. When such an exercise system of this inventionis synchronized with the “scenery” and the user is to view the “scenery”while performing the exercise, viewing the “scenery” is to correspond tothe task of his or her exercise, while the goal of the “scenery” is tocorrespond to the goal of the task, i.e., to view a preset or entireportion of the “scenery” by manipulating the above features of suchimages set forth in this paragraph. The “scenery” or task may includeany arbitrary number of stages therein, where the stages may be formedas chapters, plots, and/or parts, primarily based on contents orcontexts, time, geography, landmarks, distance defined in the realenvironment or in the images, and the like. Accordingly, the “scenery”may form a single stage therein in which the user views only a portionor entire portion thereof depending on various features, may includemultiple stages in which the user is allowed to proceed to a next stageonly by achieving a preset goal which is defined for a current stage,and the like. The “scenery” may further define a single or multiplegoals and maintain the goals therethrough, through the operation of theexercise module, through exercise of the user, and so on. Alternatively,the “scenery” may define a single goal and thereafter vary the goal,through the operation of the exercise module, through exercise of theuser, and the like. In the alternative, the “scenery” may definemultiple goals, select one of such goals, and thereafter select anotherof the goals, through the operation of the exercise module, throughexercise of the user. In another alternative, the “scenery” may define asingle or multiple goals and thereafter manipulate its goal at leastpartly based on any of the features. It is noted that the “scenery” maybe defined based on various different geographies so that the “scenery”may represent the images of land geography, underwater geography,astronomical geography, and the like, as far as such images defineaesthetic themes as a whole and are arranged in geographic sequences.

As used herein, a “virtual environment” (or to be abbreviated as “VE”hereinafter) is to refer to an environment always including at least onevisual feature (or “images”) and also optionally including at least oneauditory feature (or “sounds”), at least one olfactory feature (or“smells”), and/or at least one tactile feature (or “sensations”), whereeach of the above features may represent, connote or be associated withat least one of multiple elements such as a preset object, background,event, activity, surrounding, geographic region, and so on. Therefore,the “VE” may include such features pertaining to at least one of theabove elements or, alternatively, may include such features pertainingto at least one of such elements and those features pertaining to atleast one of a different object, background, event, activity,surrounding, region, and so on. It is appreciated within the scope ofthis invention that a mere display of alphanumerals, symbols, or loadsimposed by the exercise equipment to the user is deemed to notconstitute the “VE” and that a mere display of a temporalcharacteristic, distribution, or variation of such loads is deemed tonot constitute the “VE” as well. That is, the “VE” in this invention isto preferably include at least one of such visual, auditory, olfactoryor tactile features which relate the user with at least one of theelements. Therefore, the “VE” in this invention must include the visualfeature and may optionally include at least one of the auditory,olfactory, and tactile features related to the above elements.

As used herein, “features” refer to various aspects related to orassociated with a preset VE, including temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, or variations of such aspects. Forexample, the “visual feature” may refer to various visual aspectsexamples of which may include, but not limited to, a shape and a size ofan image, contents carried thereby, its color and brightness, itscontrast and sharpness, its zoom, its temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions or variations, and so on. The “auditoryfeature” may refer to various auditory (or audible) aspects examples ofwhich may include, but not be limited to, a volume or loudness of asound, its tone, its balance (e.g., in a stereo mode), its frequencydistribution, a direction from its source, and temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions or variations of the audible (orauditory) aspects, and so on. The “olfactory feature” may then includevarious olfactory aspects examples of which may include, but not belimited to, a type of a smell, its intensity, temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions or variations of such olfactory aspects,and the like. The “tactile feature” may then refer to various tactileaspects examples of which may include, but not be limited to,mechanical, thermal, and/or electrical properties of various parts ofsuch exercise and/or output modules of the exercise system of thisinvention.

Unless otherwise defined in the following specification, all technicaland scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention belongs. Although the methods or materials equivalent orsimilar to those described herein can be used in the practice or in thetesting of the present invention, the suitable methods and materials aredescribed below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and/orother references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in theirentirety. In case of any conflict, the present specification, includingdefinitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, andexamples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting the scopeof the present invention.

Other features and/or advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims aswell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of various modules of an exemplaryexercise system according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2F are schematic diagrams of exemplary exercise systemsincorporating therein a different number of modules;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic perspective views of exemplary exercisesystems according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic perspective views of exemplary exercisesystems simulating exercising users as simulated users of tasks of videogames and allowing the users to compete each other according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention generally relates to an exercise system whichincludes multiple exercise modules and which provides a preset task of astory, a scenery, and/or a video (or computer) game to multiple userswho simultaneously perform the same or different exercises on, with,and/or against such exercise modules. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to an exercise system which includes multipleexercising modules disposed in different locations but coupling to eachother through a local or global network and then provides multiple usersexercising on, with or against the exercise modules with a preset taskin a format of a story, scenery, or video (or computer) game eachdefining at least one preset goal and provided in images of a virtualenvironment so that the users can compete each other in the images forthe task for the goal at least partly based upon at least one feature ofthe users, exercises or operation of the exercise modules. To this end,the exercise system may simulate at least one of the users as at leastone simulated user which is included in the images (or as at least oneelement of the images), and manipulate the simulated user at leastpartly based upon at least one feature of the task, users, exercises oroperation of the exercise modules, where examples of such elementsinclude a preset object and background in the images. Thereby, the userscan perform the exercises on, with, and/or against such exercise moduleswhile simultaneously pursuing the goal of the task based on at least onefeature of the exercises. Conversely, the present invention relates toan exercise system which provides the users with such a task andmanipulates at least one feature of the operation of at least one of itsexercise modules directly or indirectly related to the exercises atleast partly based on at least one feature of the task. To this end,such an exercise system simulates at least one of the users as at lastone simulated user and manipulates the operation of the system at leastpartly based on at least one feature of the task with or withoutallowing the users to manipulate other elements of the task through atleast one feature directly or indirectly related to such exercises.Whereby, the users can perform the exercises while pursuing the goal ofthe task based on progress of the task which is determined at leastpartly based on the exercises. In all of such embodiments, the systemalways includes at least one output module which in turn incorporates atleast two visual units disposed in different locations and displayingthe task images to each exercising user and which also includes at leastone olfactory or tactile unit providing respectively smells orsensations related to the task. Therefore, the exercising users canperform the exercise while participating in the task as well asmonitoring progress of the task by watching the images, hearing thesounds, smelling the smells or feeling the sensations.

The present invention also relates to various methods of providing sucha task of a scenery, a story or a game to multiple users engaged inexercises on, with or against multiple exercise modules incorporated indifferent locations via a local or global network and relating at leastone feature of the task with at least one feature related with theexercises or vice versa. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to various methods of providing communication between multipleexercise modules in different locations, monitoring various features ofthe task, users, exercises performed by such users or operation of theexercise modules, and then allowing the users to compete in a virtualenvironment defining images, sounds, smells or sensations whiletransferring such features between the exercise modules through thelocal or global network. Based thereon, the present invention relates tovarious methods of providing the users with such images for the task,those of simulating such users as the simulated users included into thetask, and those of manipulating the simulated users in the images forthe task at least partly based upon the features of the exercises, usersor operations to manipulate at least one feature of the task toaccomplish the task goal. Conversely, the present invention relates tovarious methods of providing such images to the exercising users, thoseof simulating such users as the simulated users, and those ofmanipulating at least one feature of the operation of such exercisemodules at least partly based on at least one task feature, therebyaffecting at least one feature of the exercises for the goal of thetask. In all of these embodiments, the present invention relates tovarious methods of performing the above manipulations when such userssimultaneously perform the same or different exercises on, with oragainst the exercise modules. The present invention further relates tovarious methods of providing a compact or full-size visual unit for eachuser, those of disposing such visual units in a single or multiple viewangles of such users, and those of displaying such images for the usersduring their exercises. The present invention relates to various methodsof providing such users with sounds, smells or sensations for the task,those of synchronizing such sounds, smells or sensations with the imagesfor the task, and the like.

The present invention further relates to various processes forfabricating an exercise system capable of providing the task of thestory, scenery or video (or computer) game to multiple users who engagein the same or different exercises in different locations whilecompeting each other in such a task. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to various processes for providing the system whichallows multiple users to simultaneously perform the exercises, those ofgenerating the task in a format of the story, scenery or game eachdefining at least one preset goal and provided in images of a virtualenvironment therefor, and those of manipulating progress of the task atleast partly based on at least one feature directly or indirectlyrelated with the exercises performed by the users. To these ends, thepresent invention relates to various processes for defining andassessing various features of the exercises performed by the users orprovided by the exercise modules, at least one operation of the exercisemodules, users engaging such exercises or the task, those of simulatingthe users as the simulated users, those of manipulating the simulatedusers at least partly based on the features of the exercises, users oroperation, and the like. Thereby, multiple users can simultaneouslyperform the same or different exercises while competing each other inthe images of the task and pursuing the task goal based upon theexercises. Conversely, the present invention relates to variousprocesses for providing the exercising users with the task, and those ofmanipulating at least one feature of the operation of the systemdirectly or indirectly related to the exercises at least partly based onat least one feature of the task. To this end, the present inventionrelates to various processes for defining and then assessing the abovefeatures, those of simulating the users as the simulated users, those ofmanipulating the operation of the exercise modules at least partly basedon at least one feature of the task with or without allowing the usersto manipulate other elements of such a task based on at least onefeature directly or indirectly related to the exercises, and so on.Whereby, the users can perform the exercises while pursuing the presettask goal based on progress of the task which is affected at leastpartly by the exercises. In either embodiment, the present inventionrelates to various processes of including in the exercise systemmultiple visual units which display the images of the task for eachuser, define compact or full-size configurations, and are indispositions and arrangements providing a single or multiple view anglesto the users who then monitor progress of the task and manipulate suchsimulated users during the exercises while competing each other for thetask. The present invention further relate to various processes ofproviding such users with sounds, smells or sensations for the task andthose of synchronizing such sounds, smells or sensations with the imagesfor the task.

Various aspects and/or embodiments of various systems, methods, and/orprocesses of this invention will now be described more particularly withreference to the accompanying drawings and text, where such aspectsand/or embodiments thereof only represent different forms. Such systems,methods, and/or processes of this invention, however, may also beembodied in many other different forms and, accordingly, should not belimited to such aspects and/or embodiments which are set forth herein.Rather, various exemplary aspects and/or embodiments described hereinare provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, andfully convey the scope of the present invention to one of ordinary skillin the relevant art.

Unless otherwise specified, various modules, units, elements, and partsof various exercise systems of this invention are not typically drawn toscales or proportions for ease of illustration. It is appreciated thatsuch modules, units, elements, and parts of the exercise systems of thisinvention designated by the same and/or similar numerals generallyrepresent the same, similar or functionally equivalent modules, units,elements, and/or parts thereof, respectively.

In one aspect of the present invention, an exemplary exercise system isfabricated in various arrangements, while incorporating therein variousmodules and units for providing such exercise and task each definingvarious features. FIG. 1 describes a schematic diagram of variousmodules of an exemplary exercise system according to the presentinvention, where the system 10 includes therein at least two standardexercise modules or simply exercise modules 20 (or 20A and 20B), atleast one control module 40, and at least one output module 50. It isnoted that the exercise modules 20 may be disposed in the same locationor in different, geographically separate locations.

The exercise system 10 may be deemed to include all the modules 20, 40,50 or, alternatively, to have only the control and output modules 40, 50which are added to at least two prior art exercise equipment which maybe deemed to not be a part of the system 10. It is appreciated thatclassification of various members 20, 40, 50 is not critical to thescope of this invention as far as such a system 10 performs variousfunctions set forth herein.

Each exercise module 20A, 20B is arranged to allow an user to force orfacilitate a single user to consume energy by performing an exercise,e.g., by performing physical work thereon, therewith or thereagainst orby receiving physical or electrical energy therefrom and then vibratingor twitching his or her muscles based thereupon. As a result, eachexercise module 20 may improve or enhance a muscle tone of the user,increase his or her muscle mass or volume, force or facilitate the userto reduce his or her weight, increase his or her physical stamina,primarily by performing such exercise. In this context, the exercisemodules 20 may include any prior art exercise or fitness equipment asset forth herein. In general, the exercise modules 20 allows the user toexercise by performing voluntary or involuntary activities of variousmuscles of the user leading to the above results. Accordingly, theexercise module 20 may include not only the prior art exercise orfitness equipment commonly seen in a gymnasium or fitness center butalso any conventional equipment supplying electrical energy to the userand inducing involuntary contraction of the muscles. It is appreciatedthat the exercise modules 20 perform various operations in order to seta specific exercise to be performed by the user and the operations arecharacterized by various features (i.e., “features of operation” or“operation features” as defined above). It is also noted that theexercise set by such operations are also characterized by variousfeatures (i.e., “features of exercise” or “exercise features” as definedabove).

In spite of its various operating mechanisms, each exercise module 20A,20B typically includes at least one actuating part which is specificallyshaped and sized to contact at least one body part of the user forreceiving mechanical energy therefrom. For example, the actuating partmay be shaped and sized as a track, a pedal, a weight, a lever, ahandle, a belt, a pad, and the like, where details of such have been setforth herein above. The exercise module 20 may incorporate at least oneload as set forth herein and couple the actuating part with the load sothat an amount of energy to be supplied by the user to the actuatingpart per a unit exercise may vary depending upon a magnitude of theload. When the exercise module 20 is to provide the electrical energy tothe user, it may include at least one actuating part which contacts abody part of the user and supplies electric current therein or electricvoltage thereacross, where examples of the actuating part may include,but not limited to, electrodes, handles, pedals, belts, and so on. Thus,the exercise module 20 of this invention does not include the prior artdevice which is preferentially intended to engage the user in solelyplaying the prior art video or computer game, although the exercisemodule 20 of this invention may be modified to allow the user to engagein any of such games to obtain the aforementioned results.

As set forth herein, the exercise modules 20 may be disposed indifferent locations, where the exercise modules 20A, 20B preferablycouple with each other directly or indirectly by a local or globalnetwork encompassing those locations such as, e.g., those locations inthe same or different districts (or cities), those in the same ordifferent countries (or time zones), and those in the same or differentplanets. It is also appreciated that the above exercise modules 20 mayprovide such exercises which define the same or similar types anddifferent extents or, alternatively, which have different types andsame, similar or different extents. More particularly, such exercisemodules 20 preferably provide the same, similar or different exerciseswhen the users are to simultaneously perform such exercises on, with oragainst each exercise module 20. When desirable such exercise modules 20may provide the same, similar or different exercises in a delayed modewhen the users are to perform the exercises at different times. Basedthereupon, each exercise module 20 may include the same, similar ordifferent actuating parts to provide such exercises. The exercisemodules 20 may be operatively coupled with each other directly orindirectly by another unit or module or disposed independently of eachother.

The exercise system 10 operatively couples the exercise modules 20 withthe control module 40 so as to perform various functions as set forthherein. For example, the exercise modules 20 may receive at least onecontrol signal from the control module 40 so as to manipulate at leastone of their operations. Conversely, such exercise modules 20 maytransmit various signals to the control module 40 which monitors variousvariables or parameters of operations of the exercise modules 20 basedthereon. The exercise system 10 also couples the exercise modules 20with the output module 50 by the control module 40 so that at least onefeature of the operation of the exercise modules 20 may be reflected bythe output module 50 or at least one feature of such images for the taskmay be reflected by the operation of the exercise modules 20.Alternatively, the system 10 may also allow the exercise modules 20 todirectly to with the output module 50. In any of such examples, themodules 20, 40, 50 may also couple to each other by transmitting and/orreceiving at least one feature of the task, users, exercises oroperation of such exercise modules 20 via a local or global network eachencompassing the different locations as will be described below.Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 describes the exercise system 10 witha single control module 40, it is appreciated that such a system 10 mayalso include multiple control modules when the exercise modules 20 aredisposed in different locations and it is desired to perform variouscontrol functions for each exercise module 20 in each location.

As will be described in detail below, the exercise modules 20 may coupleto or incorporate at least one of various units of the control or outputmodule 40, 50 so that the exercise modules 20 may directly participateto provide the task of the story, scenery or game in the images, toperform various control functions, to provide the images or otherfeatures of the virtual environment, and the like. The exercise modules20 are preferably provided as separate modules of the system 10 as shownin FIG. 1. The system 10 may instead consist only of the control andoutput modules 40, 50 to which multiple prior art fitness or exerciseequipment are retrofit, where the equipment serves as external modules.

The output module 50 provides the users with at least one virtualenvironment which includes at least one visual feature (i.e., images)and may optionally include at least one auditory feature (i.e., sounds),at least one olfactory feature (i.e., smells), and at least one tactilefeature (i.e., sensations) each of which is related to the task of thestory, scenery or video (or computer) game provided in the images. Tothis end, such a module 50 includes multiple visual (output) units 51,at least one optional auditory (output) unit 52, olfactory (output) unit53, tactile (output) unit 54, and display unit 55.

To display such images or provide other features of the virtualenvironment, the output module 50 operatively couples with the controlmodule 40 and optionally at least one of the exercise modules 20. As inFIG. 1, the output module 50 may be provided as a module of the system10 or, alternatively, may be provided as an add-on module coupling withor retrofit to the system 10 which consists of the exercise and controlmodules 20, 40. The system 10 may not include any output module butcouple to an external audiovisual device to recruit its pre-existingaudiovisual capacity such as, e.g., a CRT, an LCD, an OLED, an IOLED, aPDP or any screen capable of displaying the images in a black-and-whiteor color mode, where examples of such external audiovisual devices mayinclude, but not limited to, a stationary or portable audiovisual deviceincluding at least one screen (e.g., a DVD player and TV), a portabledata processing device including at least one screen (e.g., a PDA, adata organizer or laptop computer), a portable communication device withat least one screen (e.g., a cellular or mobile phone), and the like.Similarly, the system 10 may couple to an external olfactory or tactiledevice to recruit a pre-existing olfactory or tactile capacity of thedevice. In addition to various functions to be described in conjunctionwith such units 51-55, the output module 50 may include at least aportion of the control module 40, may perform at least one function ofthe control module 40, or may be recruited as at least a portion of thecontrol module 40.

The exercise system 10 may include a single output module 50 includingmultiple visual units 51 and one or multiple auditory, olfactory,tactile, and/or display units 52-55 or, alternatively, may includemultiple output modules 50 each including a single or multiple of suchunits 51-55 each may define the similar or different configurations andperform similar or different functions. Accordingly, the system 10 maydisplay images of a task by a single or multiple output modules 50 tothe users simultaneously exercising on, with or against the exercisemodules 20 or performing the exercise in a delayed mode. Therefore, thesingle output module 50 may serve as a “common” output module 50 of thesystem 10, whereas each output module 50 may function as an “individual”output module 50. The same applies to each unit 51-55 of the outputmodule 50 as well.

As will be disclosed below, the output module 50 is preferably disposedto allow multiple users to view the images displayed on multiple compactor full-size visual units 51 in a single or multiple view angles andwithin a viewable distance therefrom, to allow the users to hear thesounds played by the auditory unit 52, to allow the users to smellsubstances delivered by the olfactory unit 53, to allow the users tofeel the sensations generated by the tactile unit 54, and so on.Therefore, the output module 50 (or at least one unit thereof may bedisposed away from the exercise and control modules 20, 40, while beingsupported by a structure in which the system 10 is installed. In thealternative, the output module 50 (or at least one unit thereof) may beincorporated to various portable articles carried by the users orvarious wearable articles to be worn thereby, where examples of sucharticles may include, e.g., glasses, goggles, a helmet, a hat, a cap, ahead band, an earphone, a headphone, an earpiece, a headpiece, a hairband, a ring, a glove, or any other articles for releasably couplingsuch to the users or their cloths. Other configurations of the outputmodule 50 (or at least one of its units) may depend on a specific typeof the task provided in the images, and their disposition or arrangementmay depend on the type of the task, or a number of the exercise modules20A, 20B. Although the embodiment of FIG. 1 describes the exercisesystem 10 including a single output module 50, such a system 10 may alsoinclude multiple output modules when the exercise modules 20 aredisposed in different locations and it is desired to perform variousoutput functions for each user exercising on, with, and/or against adifferent exercise module 20 in each location.

It is appreciated that the output module 50 (or at least one of itsunits) may perform at least one function of the control module 40 orthat at least a portion of the control module 40 may be included in sucha module 50. For example, the output module 50 may be arranged togenerate at least a portion of the task in such images. In general, theoutput module 50 (or at least one of its units) is arranged to operateat least partly based on various control signals supplied by the controlmodule 40. The output module 50 (or at least one of its units) may alsooperate at least partly based on user inputs supplied directly theretoby the user or transmitted thereto through the exercise or controlmodules 20, 40.

A main function of each visual unit 51 is to display the images (i.e.,visual feature) of the virtual environment for the task of the story,scenery or game, where the images may be generated thereby, stored andretrieved therefrom, supplied from or transmitted by the control module40 wirelessly or by wire, transmitted through wire or wirelessly from anexternal source such as, e.g., an external image-supplying device,user(s), other persons, and the like. Each visual unit 51 may preferablyembody the task by displaying the images of various types such as, e.g.,a still picture of a single portion (i.e., an entire portion of thepicture is displayed simultaneously), a still picture of multipleportions a different portion of which is displayed one at a time, aseries of the still pictures, a video clip, or its mixture.

At least one of the visual units 51 of the output module 50 may define acompact configuration so that, when disposed and arranged properlywithin the viewable distance, one exercising user can view an entireportion of the unit 51 in a single view angle, where details of such avisual unit 51 have been disclosed in the co-pending Applications. Atleast one of the visual units 51 may have a full-size configuration sothat, when disposed and arranged properly in a viewable distance, oneexercising user may view different portions of the visual unit 51 ineach of such view angles of the user. Details of the full-size visualunit 51 have also been disclosed in the co-pending Applications.

The images displayed on the visual units 51 may be in black-and-white ormultiple colors, and may be two- or three-dimensional. Such images mayinclude various features such as, e.g., at least one object, background,optional simulated user, manipulatable feature, and the like, where theobject and background may correspond to a living organism (e.g., aperson, an animal, a plant, and the like), a nonliving object or amixture thereof. When the task is the video or computer game, eachobject and background is preferably synthesized or, at best, animated toat least partly but not entirely resemble a real appearance of theuser(s). The object and background may be synthesized by a program withor without animating the user(s) as well, where the simulated user maycorrespond to the animated or simulated version of at least one userfeature. When the task is the story or scenery, each object andbackground preferably describes an actual configuration of the livingorganism, nonliving object, their mixture in the real world, and so on.The story or scenery may not typically include the simulated usertherein, although the task thereof may also include at least onemanipulatable feature. In particular, the background may represent anoutdoor or indoor environment, a ground, a desert, a forest or woods, amountain, a cave, a building, a stadium, a ring, a river, a lake, awater fall, an ocean, an underwater environment, a sky, an universe, aplanet, a moon, a star, or other settings against or in which such anobject may be included or portrayed, where the event may include anathletic game, a festival, a combat, a meeting, a contest, an exam, abusiness, or any other happenings related to the object or background,where the activity may then include walking, running, sprinting,jogging, jumping, rowing, throwing, pushing with or pulling a leg or anarm of the user, bending a leg, an arm, or any joint of the user, orrotating a leg, an arm, a joint, a waist, or a neck of the user, whilethe geographic region may include any landmark such as, e.g., a city, anurban or rural area, a monument, a theater, a building, a street, aroad, a tunnel, a park, a desert, a forest, a mountain, a desert, acave, a river, a lake, woods, a waterfall, an ocean, a sky, a star, anuniverse, and so on. Each visual unit 51 may then provide the images forthe task on a single portion of its image domain, where further divisionof the images is not plausible. Alternatively, each visual unit 51 mayprovide the images simultaneously on multiple portions of its imagedomain, where each of such portions of the image domain may display atleast one object or background thereon. Each visual unit 51 may providesuch images of the task in a single portion of its image domain, wherefurther division of the images is not plausible. Alternatively, thevisual unit 51 may provide the images on multiple portions of its imagedomain simultaneously, where each of such portions may then display atleast one object or background thereon.

The images for the task of the story, scenery or video (or computer)game also define various features which are referred to as “features” ofthe task or, simply, “task features” as defined above. At least one ofthe task features is preferably manipulated at least partly based on atleast one feature of the exercises engaged by the users (i.e., exercisefeatures), at least one operation of the exercise modules 20 (i.e.,operation features), or users (i.e., user features) such that the taskfeatures may be manipulated directly or indirectly by the exercisefeatures. In general, the system 10 may manipulate any task feature,although examples of the manipulatable task features may include, butnot limited to, a shape and a size of the object or background, a shapeand size of the simulated user, a number of the object, background orsimulated user, their configuration, their arrangement, theirdisposition, their orientation, their color or hue, their contrast orbrightness, their sharpness, view or projection angles thereof, adistance thereto, temporal or spatial characteristics, distribution, orvariations of thereof and any of the above, and the like.

The task images may be provided or generated by various means. Forexample, the visual unit 51 (or control module 40) may store a single ormultiple images and retrieve one or more images, may generate a singleor multiple images by superposing one of the object and background ontothe other or by composing such images from one or multiple visualelements, may receive (or download) one or multiple images from thecontrol module 40 or at least one external source such as, e.g., aninternet, a wired broadcast or wireless broadcast, another user ofanother system, and the like. The visual unit 51 may also acquire one ormultiple images by the sensor unit 42. In all of such examples, eachimage may include at least one object and background as set forthherein. As set forth herein, the visual unit 51 performs any of suchfunctions based upon the control signals (i.e., automatically oradaptively), based on the user inputs (i.e., manually), based on atleast one of the features of the user, exercises, or operations of theexercise module 20, and the like.

To provide the images for the task, the visual unit 51 (or controlmodule 40) may preferably be arranged to provide the desired visualfeature in a preset viewpoint with respect to the user. To this end, thevisual unit 51 (or control module 40) may control various features ofthe images as described above. The task images may be provided based ona preset view angle or distance with respect to the user or that theimages may be provided to simulate the view angle or distance. Whendesirable, the visual unit 51 may zoom in or out of such images, changethe view angle of the images, vary the distance to the images, rotatethe images with respect to a preset reference point, and the like.

The visual unit 51 (or control module 40) may control the temporal orspatial characteristics or distributions of such images in variousmodes. For example, the visual unit 51 (or control module 40) maydisplay the still image, a series of still images, a video clip or amixture thereof each obtained by the above means or sources in a presetorder, randomly or based on at least one of various features of thetask, users, exercises, operations, and the like. In addition, thevisual unit 51 (or control module 40) may also perform the control for apreset period of time or a preset duration, where examples of suchperiods may be a period selected by the user, a period determined basedon such features, and the like, and where examples of the durations maybe a duration for the user to finish a preset portion of the exercises(or task), a duration till the images proceed to a preset stage, and soon. The visual unit 51 may display such images by acquiring the objectand background simultaneously, by acquiring the object and backgroundindependently and superposing one over the other, by acquiring one ofthe object and background followed by synthesizing the other andcomposing the object and background, and the like. The visual unit 51(or control module 40) may also repeat a preset portion of the images,display the images without any repetition, or display such images in apreset order or randomly.

As set forth above, the output modules 50 may include one or multiplevisual units 51 for each exercise module 20. All visual units 51 maydefine the same shapes or sizes and display the same or different imagesin the same or different view angles, at least two of the units 51 maydefine different shapes or sizes and display the same or different sizesin the same or different view angles, and the like, where at least oneof such units 51 may provide multiple view angles to the user who mayview different portions of the images in each view angle such as, e.g.,a panoramic view of such images.

Each visual unit 51 may be constructed from any prior art display devicecapable of defining at least one image domain, where the domain maydefine a single portion or multiple portions related to or independentof such images. The visual unit 51 may include at least one driver orstorage to include a single or multiple images or retrieves one ormultiple images from various prior art storage media such as, e.g.,electric, magnetic or optical tapes or disks, semiconductor or otherequivalent memory chips, and the like. Thus, examples of such displaydevices may include, but not be limited to, a cathode-ray tube (or CRT),a liquid crystal display (or LCD), a display device with an organiclight emitting diode (or OLED), an inorganic light emitting diode (orIOLED), a plasma display panel (or PDP), a beam projector with a screen,and the like. When the visual unit 51 defines multiple image domains orinstead defines a single image domain with multiple portions, thedomains or portions may display the same or different images, where suchimages may be independent of each other or may cooperate with each otherto form a bigger and wider coherent images. Other configurations,arrangements or dispositions of the visual unit 51 may be similar oridentical to those of the output module 50 as far as the visual unit 51may display the images in multiple view angles of the user and within aviewable distance therefrom.

A primary function of the auditory unit 52 is to provide the sounds(i.e., auditory features) for the task, where the sounds may begenerated thereby, stored and retrieved therefrom, supplied from ortransmitted by the control module 40 through wire or wirelessly,transmitted by wire or wirelessly from various external sources whichare generally similar to those for the visual unit 51 such as, e.g., anexternal sound-supplying device, user(s), other persons, and so on. Ingeneral, the auditory unit 52 may embody the task by playing such soundsof various types such as, e.g., voices of (or sounds generated by) theuser or others, sounds of (or generated by) an animal or a plant,musical sounds, sounds from (or generated by) a nonliving object, soundsrelated with (or connoting) preset events or geographic regions, and/orsynthetic sounds not related to any of the above, where the sounds maybe played in a mono or stereo mode. Depending on their types, suchsounds may carry text contents as is the case of the conversation, carrya melody or other musical contents as is the case of music or may notinclude any of the contents as is the case of instrumental music.

The auditory unit 52 is to play such sounds corresponding to theauditory feature of the virtual environment for the task. The sounds maybe provided in a mono, stereo or surround mode, and may include variousfeatures such as, e.g., a melody, tune, tempo, and optional verse, wherethe features may reflect or represent a living organism (e.g., a person,animal, or plant), a nonliving object, or their mixture. When the taskis the game, the sounds may be synthesized or, at best, animated for atleast partly but not entirely resembling real sounds of (or from) theorganism or object or, alternatively, may be synthesized with or withoutanimating the users. Therefore, the simulated user may correspond to ananimated or simulated version of at least one feature of the sounds.When the task is the story or scenery, however, each of the features ofthe sounds may preferably describe actual sounds of the living organism,nonliving object or their mixture in a real world. The scenery or storymay not include the simulated user, although the task may define atleast one manipulatable feature. In either case, the features of thesounds may represent those of the objects or backgrounds of the images.

The sounds for the task of the story, scenery or video (or computer)game also define various features which are referred to as “features” ofthe task or, simply, “task features” as set forth herein. It is to beunderstood that at least one of the task features may also be preferablymanipulated at least partly based on at least one exercise feature, atleast one operation features, and/or at least one user features suchthat the task features may be manipulated either directly or indirectlyby such exercise features. In general, the system 10 may arrange anytask feature to be manipulated thereby, although examples of suchpreferred manipulatable task features may include, but not be limitedto, a volume or loudness of such sounds, a frequency or frequencydistribution thereof, a balance thereof, temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, and/or variations thereof, and the like.

Such sounds may be provided or generated by various means. In oneexample, each auditory unit 52 (or control module 40) may store a singleor multiple sounds and retrieve one or more sounds therefrom, generate asingle or multiple sounds by superposing one onto the other or bycomposing such sounds from one or multiple auditory elements, receive ordownload a single or multiple sounds from the control module 40 or atleast one external source such as, e.g., an internet, wired broadcast orwireless broadcast, another user, and the like. The auditory unit 52 mayacquire a single or multiple sounds by the sensor unit 42. In all ofsuch examples, each sound may include at least one feature representingthe object and/or background each of which is preferably animated orsynthesized. As set forth herein, any of such functions of the auditoryunit 52 may be decided at least partly based on the control signals(i.e., automatically or adaptively), user inputs (i.e., manually), atleast one feature of the user(s), exercises, and/or operations of theexercise module 20, and the like. In each example, the sounds may berelated to and/or associated with the event, region, timing, user oranother person, and/or object. In general, the auditory unit 52 (orcontrol module 40) may manipulate various aspects of the sounds basedupon at least one feature of the task, user(s), exercises, and/oroperations such as, e.g., the source of the sounds, type thereof,contents thereof, and the like, each of which may in turn be determinedby the control signals, above features, and the like.

The auditory unit 52 is to play such sounds representing the auditoryfeature of the task. The sounds may include various features eachdescribing the object, background, optional simulated user, optionalmanipulatable feature, and the like. To provide the sounds with desiredauditory features, the auditory unit 52 (or control module 40) maypreferably provide the sounds in a preset viewpoint of the user(s). Tothis end, the auditory unit 52 (or control module 40) may controlvarious features of such sounds, where examples of the features mayinclude, but not limited to, a volume or amplitudes of the sounds, atone or frequency distribution thereof, contents carried by the sounds,a direction thereof, a balance thereof, temporal and/or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, and/or variations of the above features,and so on. It is appreciated that the sounds may be generated along apreset direction or in a preset distance with respect to the user, orthat such sounds may simulate the direction or distance. When desirable,the auditory unit 52 may control various features of the sounds, changethe direction of and/or distance to such sounds, and the like.

The auditory unit 52 (or control module 40) may control the temporal orspatial characteristics or distributions of the sounds in various modes.For example, the auditory unit 52 may play the same sounds, a series ofdifferent sounds, a mixture thereof each obtained by such means orsources in a preset order, randomly or based on at least one of suchfeatures. In addition, the auditory unit 52 may perform the control fora preset period of time (or duration), where examples of the presetperiods are similar to those of the visual unit 51. The auditory unit 52may play the sounds by acquiring different sounds simultaneously,acquiring different sounds independently and superposing one overanother, acquiring one of the sounds, synthesizing the other, andcomposing mixed sounds therefrom, and the like. It is appreciated thatthe system 10 may also be arranged to provide the user with the task inthe images alone, and/or in such sounds along with the images, where thesounds may also be provided independently of the images or synchronizedtherewith.

Each auditory unit 52 may also be fabricated from any conventional withspeakers and, when necessary, at least one driver and at least onestorage capable of storing therein such sounds and/or retrieving suchsounds from various prior art storage media such as electric, magnetic,and/or optical tapes or disks, semiconductor or other equivalent memorychips, and the like. In general, the auditory unit 52 may include anyprior art speakers examples of which may include, but not be limited to,cone-drive speakers, piezoelectric speakers, electrostatic speakers, andany equivalents of the speakers. The auditory unit 52 may also include asingle speaker or multiple speakers which generate the same or differentsounds therefrom. The auditory unit 52 may propagate such sounds to apreset area of the user(s), where such areas may be selected similar tothose of the visual unit 51. In addition, such an auditory unit 52 maybe provided in the dispositions similar to those of the visual unit 51,except that the auditory unit 52 are to be placed closer to ears (thaneyes) of the user(s). Other configurations, arrangements, and/ordispositions of the auditory unit 52 are similar or identical to thoseof the overall output module 50 as long as the auditory unit 52 maygenerate the sounds and delivers such sounds to the exercising user(s).

A main function of the olfactory unit 53 is to provide the olfactoryfeature (i.e., smells) of the virtual environment for the task of thestory, scenery or game, where such smells may be generated thereby,stored and retrieved therefrom, and/or delivered from an external sourcesuch as, e.g., an external device for generating such smells, users,another system or other persons. In general, the olfactory unit 53 (orcontrol module 40) preferably embodies the task by giving off smellsprovided (or generated) by various means. For example, the olfactoryunit 53 may store a single strand or multiple strands of smells thereinand retrieve one or more smells therefrom, may generate a single ormultiple smells by mixing or reacting at least one chemical substancewith another substance, may receive a single or multiple smells from astorage or at least one external source connected thereto by varioustubing. The olfactory unit 53 may acquire a single or multiple smellsusing the sensor unit 42. In all of these examples, the smells may bereal ones (i.e., those existing in the nature) for the task of story orscenery, synthesized (i.e., those not existing in the nature) for thetask of the game, and/or mixtures thereof. The real smells may beobtained from a living organism (such as a person, an animal, a plant,and the like) or nonliving object and correspond to the smells of theobjects or backgrounds displayed on the images, user's smells, thesynthesized smells for the virtual environment, and the like. In each ofthe examples, such smells may be related or associated with a presetevent, geographic location, timing, and the like. In general, theolfactory unit 53 may be arranged to manipulate various aspects of thesmells depending on various factors such as, e.g., the source of thesmells, their types, contents thereof, and the like, each of which isdecided by various features such as, e.g., user inputs, sensed orcommand signals, variables and/or parameters sensed by the sensor unit42, conditions of the user and/or exercise module 20, or features of theexercise module 20 and/or task.

Such smells may be typically provided in a mono, stereo or surround modeand include various features such as, e.g., a type of the chemicalsubstance, an intensity thereof, its direction, temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, and/or variations thereof, and the like,where such features may reflect or represent a living organism (e.g., aperson, an animal, a plant, and the like), a nonliving object or amixture thereof, and the like. When the task is the game, the featuresare preferably synthesized smells or, at best, animated smells for atleast partly but not entirely resembling such real smells of (or from)the organism or object.

The smells for the task of the story, scenery or video (or computer)game also define various features which are referred to as “features” ofthe task or, simply, “task features” as set forth herein. It is to beunderstood that at least one of the task features may also be preferablymanipulated at least partly based on at least one exercise feature, atleast one operation feature, and/or at least one user feature such thatthe task features may be manipulated either directly or indirectly bysuch exercise features. In general, the system 10 may arrange any taskfeature to be manipulated thereby, where examples of the manipulatabletask features coincide with those enumerated in the above paragraph.

A major function of the tactile unit 54 is to provide such sensations(i.e., the tactile feature) of the virtual environment, where suchsensations may then be generated thereby, retrieved therefrom, generatedby the control module 40, retrieved from the control module 40,transmitted by the control module 40, transmitted by an external sourcesuch as, e.g., an external device, user, another system, other persons,and the like. In general, the tactile unit 54 may preferably embody thetactile feature of the virtual environment by providing variousmechanical, thermal, electrical, and/or optical sensations to theuser(s) who is to sense such sensations by his or her skin of a head, aneck, a hand, an arm, a shoulder, an upper torso, a lower torso, athigh, a leg, a foot, and the like. The tactile unit 54 may also providethe user(s) with the sensations of various features, e.g., by generatinga single sensation of a constant amplitude or time-varying amplitudes, atemporal series of such sensations, a spatial series thereof, and amixture thereof. Such sensations may be provided and/or generated byvarious means as well. For example, the tactile unit 54 (or controlmodule 40) may store mechanical, thermal, optical or electrical energytherein and utilize at least a portion of the energy for providing asingle or multiple sensations, may receive at least a portion of suchenergy from the storage unit 43 or from at least one external source ofthe energy through a wire or wirelessly such as, e.g., an externalenergy source, a wireless or wired transmission of such energy, user, oruser of another device which may not be the exercise module 20. Thetactile unit 54 may also preferably generate such sensations related toor associated with a preset object, a preset background, and the like.

As described above, the tactile unit 54 is to provide such sensationswhich correspond to the tactile feature of the virtual environment forthe task of the story, scenery or video or computer game. Suchsensations may be provided in a mono, stereo or surround mode, andinclude various features such as, e.g., a type of the sensations, anintensity thereof, a body part onto which such sensations are applied,temporal and/or spatial characteristics, distributions, and/orvariations thereof, and so on, where such features may reflect orrepresent a living organism (e.g., a person, an animal, a plant, and thelike), a nonliving object or their mixture. When the task is the game,such features are preferably synthesized sensations or, at best,animated sensations for at least partly but not entirely resembling realsensations of (or from) the organism or object. Alternatively, thefeatures of the sensations may be synthesized using a program with orwithout animating the user. When such a task is the story or scenery,each of such features of the sensations preferably describes actualsensations of (or from) the living organism, nonliving object or theirmixture in the real world. In either case, such features of thesensations may represent those represented by the objects or backgroundsof the images.

The sensations for the task of the story, scenery or video (or computer)game define various features which are referred to as “features” of thetask or, simply, “task features” as set forth herein. It is to beunderstood that at least one of the task features may also be preferablymanipulated at least partly based on at least one exercise feature, atleast one operation feature, and/or at least one user feature so thatthe task features may be manipulated directly or indirectly by theexercise features. In general, the system 10 may arrange any taskfeature to be manipulated thereby, where examples of such manipulatabletask features coincide with those of the above paragraph.

To provide such sensations of the virtual environment to the exercisinguser, the tactile unit 54 (or control module 40) preferably providesdesired sensations in the preset viewpoint of the user. To this end, thetactile unit 54 manipulates various factors of such sensations, whereexamples of such factors may include, but not be limited to, a type ofsuch sensations, an intensity thereof, a body part of the user to whichthe sensations are delivered, temporal or spatial characteristics,distributions, or variations of such factors, and the like. It isappreciated that such sensations may be provided in a preset angle ofapplication or direction with respect to the user or, alternatively, thesensations may be provided in order to simulate the angle or directionthereof. When desirable, the tactile unit 54 may vary the angle ordirection of the application, change the type of the sensations, applythe sensations to different body parts of the user, and the like.

The tactile unit 54 (or control module 40) may control such temporal orspatial characteristics or distributions of the sensations in variousmodes. For example, the tactile unit 54 may generate the sensations withvarious mechanical, thermal, electrical, and/or optical properties withor without using at least one applicator, where examples of suchmechanical properties may include, but not limited to, amplitudes ofsuch mechanical sensations, an area of the body part applied with suchsensations, a configuration and/or a number of such applicators, anarrangement of such an applicator, a hardness or softness thereof,elasticity or rigidness thereof, a surface structure thereof, whereexamples of such thermal properties may include, but not be limited to,temperature of the sensations, temperature of the applicator, an area ofthe body part is applied with the sensations, thermal conductivity ofthe applicator, a number of the applicators, an arrangement thereof, andso on, where examples of such electrical properties may include, but notbe limited to, amplitudes of electric current or voltage for thesensations, an area of the body part applied with such sensations,electrical conductivity or resistivity of the applicator, a number ofthe applicators, and/or an arrangement of such applicators, and whereexamples of the optical properties may include, but not limited to,amplitudes of the sensations, optical characteristics of lights causingsuch sensations, an area applied with such sensations, a number of theapplicators, an arrangement of the applicators, and the like. It isappreciated that the tactile unit 54 may be arranged to control varioustemporal and/or spatial characteristics of such sensations, whereexamples of the sensations may include, but not limited to, a durationof the sensations, a total number thereof, an interval therebetween, afrequency thereof, a sequence thereof, and the like. The tactile unit 54may provide such sensations of various properties to various body partsof the user in various modes. For example, the tactile unit 54 may bearranged to contact its applicator with the body part of the user and todirectly deliver such sensations thereto. It is appreciated that theapplicator of such a tactile unit 54 may be deemed as a part of thetactile unit 54 or, alternatively, may be deemed as a part of theexercise and/or control modules 20, 40. Therefore, this application modemay be deemed to be a direct mode in the former case, whereas this modemay be deemed as the indirect mode in the latter case. In anotherexample, the tactile unit 54 may also be arranged to induce suchsensations without necessarily including the applicator or withoutcontacting its applicator with the desired body part of the user. Tothis end, the tactile unit 54 may generate forced convection such as astream of wind of desired temperature (e.g., an ambient air, heated air,cooled air, and the like), irradiate electromagnetic waves such asinfrared rays, and the like. The tactile unit 54 may generate or inducethe sensations each of which may be obtained by the above means orsources in a preset order, randomly or based on at least one of suchfactors. In addition, the tactile unit 54 may perform such control for apreset period of time or a preset duration, where examples of suchpreset periods may be a period selected by the user, a period determinedbased on such factors, and the like, where examples of such presetdurations may be a duration until the user(s) may finish the exercise, aduration until the tactile feature of the environment reaches a presetfeature, and the like.

It is to be understood that the tactile unit 54 may be provided tooperatively couple with a single exercise module 20A or 20B and togenerate the tactile feature of a virtual environment to the user.Alternatively, the system 10 may include multiple tactile units 54 atleast one of which may serve as a “master” tactile unit 54 controllingthe rest thereof. Similarly, multiple systems 10 may include at leastone tactile unit 54 which serves as the “master” tactile unit 54 whichcontrols the rest thereof.

The tactile unit 54 may also be constructed from any conventionalmechanical devices capable of generating and/or delivering themechanical sensations, heating and/or cooling devices capable ofgenerating and/or delivering the thermal sensations, electrical devicesfor generating and/or delivering the electrical sensations, opticaldevices for generating and/or delivering such optical sensations, and soon. As described above, the tactile unit 54 preferably includes at leastone applicator for providing mechanical and/or electrical sensations. Inaddition, such a unit 54 may include a conductive wire or an electrodefor delivering the electrical energy to the preset body part. For suchthermal sensations, the tactile unit 54 may include at least one heatingelement which may deliver the thermal sensations to the user eitherthrough a direct contact, an indirect contact or through irradiatingsuch electromagnetic waves thereto. The tactile unit 54 may be arrangedto deliver such sensations across a preset area which may correspond toa preset portion of the user, where such portions may be an area aroundthe eyes of the user, an area encompassing an upper torso of the user,an area with a height similar to that of the user, an area capable ofreceiving and recognizing the mechanical, electrical, thermal or opticalsensations. The tactile unit 54 may also be provided to be disposed awayfrom the user, to be worn by the user over and/or around at least one ofhis or her eyes, to be worn by the user over or around his or her head,to be carried by or coupling with the user, and the like. Such a tactileunit 54 may also be incorporated into or provided as glasses, goggles,helmets, and the like. When desirable, at least a portion of the tactileunit 54 may be incorporated to the exercise module 20 or, alternatively,at least a portion of the exercise module 20, or an external devicewhich may deliver such sensations may be recruited as the tactile unit54 of the exercise system 10. Other configurational or operationalcharacteristics of the tactile unit 52 may be similar or identical tothose of the overall output module 50 as long as the tactile unit 54 maygenerate the sensations and deliver such to the exercising user.

A major function of the display unit 55 is to provide the exercisinguser(s) with various system and/or operation variables and/or parametersvisually or audibly. To this end, the display unit 55 may include anyprior art audiovisual display elements such as, e.g., display panels,speakers, and the like. The display unit 55 may be disposed into thecontrol module 40 or at least a portion of the unit 55 may be disposedinto the exercise and/or output modules 20, 50. Alternatively, variousdisplay devices of the exercise module 20 may also be recruited as thedisplay unit 55 of the system 10 as well. Other configurations,arrangements, and/or dispositions of the display unit 55 are similar oridentical to those of the overall output module 50 as long as thedisplay unit 55 may provide the above variables and/or parameters to theexercising user(s) during such exercise(s).

Various units 51-55 of the output module 50 may operatively couple witheach other in various modes. For example, each unit 51-55 of mayoperatively couple with the rest thereof so that each unit 51-55 mayreceive or transmit various informations as the electrical or opticalsignals through wire or wirelessly. In an opposite example, at least oneof the units 51-55 may couple with not all of the rest of the units51-55 so that, e.g., the visual unit 51 may couple with the auditoryunit 52 but not with the display unit 55, and the like. Accordingly, thedetailed coupling modes of such units 51-55 depend not only upon anoverall configuration of the output module 50 but also upon assignedfunctions of each unit 51-55. As described above, the output module 50includes the visual unit 51 but not necessarily includes other units52-55. By the same token, the output module 50 may include multipleunits of the same type, e.g., by including multiple visual units 51 fordisplaying different and/or overlapping images, or two or more auditoryunits 52 for generating different or overlapping sounds. It isappreciated that at least one unit 51-55 of the output module 50 may beincorporated into such exercise modules 20A, 20B and/or control module40 and perform the same or similar functions as described herein. Insuch an embodiment, that unit may be deemed as a part of the outputmodule 50 or may be deemed to form a part of the exercise or controlmodule 20A, 20B, 40, depending upon detailed definition thereof.

The control module 40 generally includes at least one input unit 41, atleast one control unit 44, at least one optional sensor unit 42 and atleast one optional storage unit 43, and is arranged to control variousoperations of the system 10 as a whole, i.e., to generate and manipulatevarious features of the task of the story, scenery or game in theimages, to relate at least one task feature to at least one feature ofthe users, exercises or operation of the exercise modules 20, to relateat least one feature of the operation (or exercises) with at least onefeature of the task, users, exercises or operation, to manipulate atleast one feature of the task at least partly based on at least onefeature of such users, exercises, and/or operation, to manipulate atleast one operation feature at least partly based upon at least onefeature of the task, users or exercises, and the like. The controlmodule 40 may manipulate various operations of the exercise or outputmodules 20, 50. The control module 40 may operatively couple with anexternal audiovisual device or other external devices including thedisplay screens or speakers and supplement (or replace) the visual,auditory, olfactory, tactile or display units 51-55 of the output module50, may operatively couple with an external device so as to provide thetask and to replace (or supplement) at least a portion of the controlmodule 40, may be operatively coupled to an external device includingthe processor and replace or supplement at least a portion of itself,and the like. To these ends, the units 41-44 of the control module 40may perform various functions such as, e.g., generating the task in theimages (or optional sounds), receiving the user inputs from the users inorder to convert such to the command signals, monitoring variablesand/or parameters and generating the sensed signals based thereupon,generating the control signals based on the command or sensed signals orindependently thereof, generating the simulated user(s), manipulating atleast one feature of the task by manipulating at least one feature ofthe images or simulated user(s), manipulating at least one feature ofthe images (or sounds) displayed (or played) by the output module 50,manipulating at least one operation of at least one of such exercisemodules 20, and the like. The control module 40 may operate in variousmodes as will be provided below and may include one or more of at leastone of its units 41-44. It is appreciated that the control module 40 maybe arranged to allow communication between at least two exercise modules20 either directly or therethrough via a local or global network, wherethe exercise modules 20 are disposed in different locations whiledenying thereto access of the user(s) and requiring the users to go outof one location and to enter another for such an access.

In order to manipulate their operations, the control module 40 mayoperatively couple with such exercise and output modules 20A, 20B, 50.As shown in the figure, such a control module 40 may be provided as amodule of the exercise system 10. Alternatively, the control module 40may be provided as an add-on module and couple with the system 10 whichthen consists of such exercise and output modules 20A, 20B, 50. Inanother alternative, the system 10 may not include any or not all unitsof the control module 50 but operatively couple with an external deviceequipped with at least one processor in order to recruit and usepre-existing task-providing and/or task-processing capability of thedevice examples of which may include, but not be limited to, a laptopcomputer, a PDA, a data organizer, an external story and/or scenerygenerator, an external game console, an external audiovisual, visual orcommunication devices including such processors, and so on. In thisembodiment, the system 10 may include a preset program for borrowingsuch task-generating or processing capability of the external devices orinclude an interface to operatively couple therewith. Alternatively, theexternal device may be equipped with a preset program which may performat least one function of the control module 40 as set forth herein. Inaddition to various functions described hereinabove, the control module40 may incorporate therein at least a portion of the exercise and/oroutput modules 20A, 20B, 50, may perform at least one function of theexercise and/or output modules 20A, 20B, 50, may be recruited as atleast a portion of such modules 20A, 20B, 50, and the like.

The exercise system 10 of this invention may include a single controlmodule 40 including one or multiple input, sensor, storage, and controlunits 41-44 or, alternatively, may include multiple control modules 40each including one or multiple of the above units 41-44 each of whichmay have similar or different configurations and each of which mayperform similar or different functions. The system 10 may have a singlecontrol module 40 for a single or multiple output modules 50, where sucha control module 40 may operate as the common module in the latter case.The system 10 may instead include multiple control modules 50 for asingle or multiple output modules 50, where such control modules 40 maycorrespond to individual control modules 40 for each output module 50and where at least one of the control modules 40 may serve as a mastercontrol module 40. Similarly, the system 10 may include a single controlmodule 40 for multiple exercise modules 20, where the control module 40may operate as the common module in the latter case. The system 10 mayinstead include multiple control modules 50 for multiple exercisemodules 20, where the control modules 40 may be individual modules foreach exercise module 20, and at least one of the control modules 40 mayserve as a master module. When the system 10 includes multiple controlmodules 40, their number may be more or less than a number of theexercise modules 20 or output modules 50. Regardless of its number, sucha control module 40 may allow the user to manipulate the exercise and/oroutput modules 20, 50 manually, may manipulate such modules 20, 50automatically or adaptively at least partly based upon at least onefeature of the task, users, exercises, operation of the exercise modules20, and the like. It is to be understood that the exercise modules 20are to be disposed in different locations and, accordingly, that such acontrol module 40 may have to communicate with at least one of suchexercise modules 20 through the global network when the module 40 isdisposed in the location of one exercise module 20. When the controlmodule 40 is disposed in a third location, such a module 40 communicateswith both exercise modules 20 via the global network encompassing thoselocations of the exercise modules 20 and itself 40.

It is appreciated that such a control module 40 (or at least one of itsunits 41-44) may perform at least one function of the output module 50or that at least a portion of the output module 50 may be included inthe control module 40. For example, the control module 40 may bearranged to display the images and/or play the sounds. In general, thecontrol module 40 is arranged to generate the control signals suppliedto other modules 20, 40. The control module 40 may transmit the userinputs supplied directly thereto to other modules 20, 50. The controlmodule 40 may also perform at least one function of the exercise modules20 or at least a portion of the exercise modules 20 may be incorporatedin the control module 40. For example, the control module 40 maydirectly provide or manipulate the load of the actuating part of suchmodules 20. Conversely, at least a portion of the control module 40 maybe disposed in the exercise or output module 20, 50 while performing itsintended function. For example, at least a portion of the control unit44 may be disposed in such exercise modules 20 for manipulating theiroperations, may be disposed in the output module 50 for manipulatingvarious visual elements of such images for the task, for manipulatingvarious auditory elements of the sounds, and the like.

The control module 40 (or at least one unit thereof) may fixedly orreleasably couple with both of the exercise and output modules 20, 50.The control module 40 may be disposed away from such modules 20, 50,while being supported by a structure in which the system 10 is installedas well. The control module 50 (or at least one unit thereof 41-44) maybe incorporated in the portable or wearable articles. Otherconfigurations, arrangements, and/or dispositions of the control module40 depend on a specific type of the task in the images or sounds, whereits disposition and/or arrangement may also depend upon whether the taskis visual or audiovisual.

The control module 40 may include various communication-related unitssuch as, e.g., at least one audio in unit for acquiring such sounds, atleast one audio out unit for generating signals carrying therealong thesounds, at least one video in unit for acquiring such images, at leastone video out unit for generating signals carrying therealong suchimages, at least one receiving unit for receiving such signals, at leastone sending unit for transmitting such signals, and the like, where suchreceiving and sending units may respectively receive and transmit suchsignals through wire or wirelessly through a global network which coversdifferent locations in which the exercise modules 20 are disposed andwhere such reception or transmission may be unilateral or bilateral.Such communication-related units may be provided as separate units or,in the alternative, may be incorporated into one or more of such units41-44. In particular, the control module 40 may provide real-timecommunication of such signals between the exercise modules 20 directlyor indirectly, may instead provide a real-time communication between theexercise modules 20 directly or indirectly, or both, thereby providing atransfer of such signals between the modules 20, 50, where such signalspreferably carry therein at least one feature of the task, exercises,users, operation of the exercise modules 20, and the like. As will bedescribed below, the control module 40 may also be arranged to transfersuch signals without altering the task feature (i.e., a simple transfer)or, in the alternative, to transfer such signals by altering orconverting the task feature based upon at least one preset relation(i.e., an equivalent conversion). Accordingly, the control module 40 mayperform such transfer sequentially or simultaneously, based on a mode ofthe users performing the exercises on, with or against the exercisemodules 20. When desirable, the control module 40 may operatively couplewith an external communication devices, where examples of such devicesmay include, but not be limited to, a wired or wireless telephone, awireless portable or mobile phone, a beeper, a walkie-talkie, and otherprior art communication devices.

A major function of the input unit 41 is to receive user inputs whichare supplied by the user(s) and related or associated with desiredfeatures of the task (i.e., the story, scenery or game), user(s),exercise(s), and/or operation of the exercise modules 20. Based upon itsoperating mechanisms, the input unit 41 may receive the user inputs byor without necessarily contacting the user(s). The input unit 41 thenconverts the user inputs into the (electric or optical) command signals.Any prior art input device may be used as the input unit 41.Accordingly, the input unit 41 may receive the user inputs by sensingmechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic or electromagnetic inputsignals supplied thereto by movements of various body parts of theuser(s), compression thereby, or contact therewith, where examples ofsuch body parts may include, but not limited to, fingers, hands, wrists,arms, toes, feet, thighs, legs, shoulders, neck, head, eyes, back,belly, sides, and the like. To this end, the input unit 41 may befabricated similar to various prior art input devices examples of whichmay include, but not be limited to, a key, key pad, array of the keys,button or array of buttons, switch or array of switches, touch screen,mouse, track pad, track ball, track stick, joystick, and the like. It isappreciated that the input unit 41 may define any of such configurationsor modifications thereof depending upon types of the user inputs, bodyparts of the user(s) contacting the input unit 41 for applying the userinputs, and the like, that the input unit 41 may move or deform inresponse to the user inputs, or that the input unit 41 may not move ordeform in response thereto. The input unit 41 may receive the userinputs without mechanically contacting any body part of the user(s). Tothis end, such an input unit 41 may generate therearound electric ormagnetic fields and receive the user inputs by monitoring perturbationof such fields which is caused by the body part of the user(s) disposedin its vicinity but not contacting such.

The input unit 41 may be incorporated in various positions around thesystem 10. For example, the input unit 41 may be provided physicallyseparate from the exercise and output modules 20, 50 or, alternatively,at least a portion of the input unit 41 may be disposed on or in suchmodules 20, 50. The input unit 41 may operatively couple to other unitsand/or modules of the system 10 wirelessly or wire, depending on itsdisposition and configuration. At least a portion of the input unit 41may be included into the portable or wearable articles so that the usersmay perform the exercises while providing the user inputs withoutdisengaging himself or herself from the exercises. At least a portion ofthe input unit 41 may be worn around other body parts and allow theuser(s) to provide the user inputs without using his or her hand and/orstopping such exercises.

It is appreciated that the system 10 may include a single input unit 41capable of receiving such user inputs for the exercise modules 20 or,alternatively, may have multiple input units 41 at least one of whichoperates as a “master” input unit 41 controlling the rest of thereof.Similarly, the input unit 41 may receive the user inputs for a singleoutput module 50 or, alternatively, the system 10 may include multipleinput units 41 at least one of which serves as the master input unit 41.The input units 41 may be of the same or different type, disposed in thesame or different positions, and/or receive the same or different unitsinputs. The input unit 41 may receive the user inputs from one or morebody parts of the user(s) which have to contact the actuating parts ofthe exercise modules 20 for such exercises. However, the input unit 41may receive such user inputs from other body parts of the user(s) whichmay not be necessary for the exercises, which may not contact suchactuating parts of the exercise modules 20, and so on. Therefore, theinput unit 41 may receive the user inputs through the first body part ofthe user(s) which are required for such exercises and may additionallyreceive the user inputs by the second body part of the user(s) which isdifferent from such a first body part and which is not necessarilyrequired to perform the exercise. This latter embodiment may beparticularly useful when the task requires multiple user inputs for theuser(s) to proceed through the task while performing the exercises. Forexample, the input unit 41 receives the primary user inputs from thefeet of the user running on the treadmill-type exercise module 20 andmonitors the exercise or user feature therefrom, and receives theauxiliary user inputs from the hands of the user which are not relatedto the running exercise but required for manipulating various featuresof the task. Such primary and auxiliary user inputs may generally bedifferentiated from each other based on an amount of energy associatedwith or consumed by the related body parts, i.e., the body partdelivering a significant amount of energy of the user. Otherconfigurations, arrangements or dispositions of the input unit 41 aresimilar or identical to those of the overall control module 40 as far asthe input unit 41 can receive such user inputs.

A primary function of the optional sensor unit 42 is to monitor variousvariables or parameters of (or related with) various operations of theexercise and/or output modules 20, 50, i.e., at least one feature of thetask, exercising users, exercises, and/or operation of the exercisemodules 20, and to convert the monitored features into the sensedsignals. Depending upon its configuration or operating characteristics,the sensor unit 42 monitors such features by contacting at least onebody part of the users or without necessarily contacting such. Thecontrol module 40 (or its control unit 44) receives the sensed signaland converts such into the control signal for various purposes such as afeedback control of other modules 20, 50, where the sensed signal areelectric or optical.

Any conventional sensing device may be used as the sensor unit 42 of thecontrol module 40. In particular, the sensor unit 42 may monitor variousfeatures of physical or physiological conditions of the user(s),operations, exercises, and/or task. Accordingly, any prior art sensingdevice capable of measuring such conditions and features may be used asthe sensor unit 42, where examples of such conditions and features mayinclude, but not limited to, a presence or absence of the user(s) (orbody part) with respect to a preset landmark of the system 10 orexercise modules 20, a distance from the landmark to the user(s) or bodypart, a position or posture thereof, a movement (including its directionor displacement) thereof, temperature thereof, heart rate or bloodpressure thereof, blood O₂ level or sugar concentration thereof, ECG,EEG, EMG, height, weight, or body fat content or percent.

The sensor unit 42 may be incorporated into various positions of theexercise system 10. For example, the sensor unit 42 may be formedphysically separate from such exercise or output modules 20, 50. Atleast a portion of the sensor unit 42 may instead be disposed in or onat least one of such modules 20, 50. The sensor unit 42 may operativelycouple with other parts of the system 10 by wire or wirelessly,depending on its disposition or structure. In addition, at least aportion of the sensor unit 42 may be included into the portable orwearable articles so that the user(s) may perform the exercise whileproviding the user inputs without disengaging himself or herself fromsuch exercises. At least a portion of the sensor unit 42 may also beworn around other body parts of the users to allow the unit 42 tomonitor various variables and parameters of other modules 20, 50 and/orconditions and various features of the user. An exact configuration,disposition or arrangement of such a unit 42, however, depends upon suchvariables or parameters, feature to be monitored or operating mechanismthereof.

The system 10 may include multiple sensor units 42 monitoring suchvariables or parameters of the exercise modules 20 and monitor variousfeatures of multiple users simultaneously performing the exercises on,with, and/or against the exercise modules 20. All sensor units 42 maydefine the same or different configurations, may monitor of the same ordifferent variables and/or parameters, may be disposed in the same ordifferent positions, and the like. In addition, at least one of thesensor units 42 may also serve as a “master” sensor unit 42 manipulatingthe rest thereof. Similarly, the sensor units 42 may monitor thevariables and/or parameters for a single output module 50 or, in thealternative, the system 10 may have multiple sensor units 42 at leastone of which serves as the master sensor unit 42. Furtherconfigurations, arrangements or dispositions of the sensor units 42 aresimilar or identical to those of the overall control module 40 as far asthe sensor units 42 monitor the features, variables, and/or parameterswith or without contacting the user(s).

A main function of the optional storage unit 43 is to store informationsrequired for generating or providing various features of the task of thestory, scenery, and/or game in such images (or other features) of thevirtual environment or which may be needed to transfer various featuresof the task, user(s), exercise(s), and/or operation(s). Accordingly, thestorage unit 43 may store an algorithm for generating and proceedingalong the task, an algorithm (i.e., relation) for manipulating thefeatures of the task based on various features of the exercises, and thelike. Depending on the configuration of the storage unit 43, suchinformations may be stored therein or may be retrieved from any otherunits 41, 42, 44 of the control module 40. In order to facilitateretrieval of desirable informations, the storage unit 43 may include adriver for accessing such informations and/or capable of storing suchthereinto, where examples of the informations may include variousfeatures of the images for the task, those of the objects, backgrounds,and/or simulated user, various set points and/or control thresholds forany of such variables, parameters, features, control programs and/oralgorithms, and the like.

Any conventional storage device may be used as the storage unit 43 ofthe control module 40. Thus, the storage unit 43 may be magnetic tapesor disks, optical disks or semiconductor data storage devices, in eachof which such informations may be stored in an analog or digital mode.As far as the storage unit 43 may store such informations, the storageunit 43 may be formed in almost any prior art processes and in almostany prior art configurations. Such a storage unit 43 may be incorporatedinto those positions as disclosed in conjunction with the sensor unit42.

A major function of the control unit 44 is to perform all of theaforementioned functions except those of other units 41-43 of thecontrol module 40, although the control unit 44 may also perform thefunctions of those units 41-43 in order to assist or supplement suchunits 41-43. Most importantly, the control unit 44 may generate the taskin the images (or virtual environment) and allow multiple users toperform the same or different exercises while transferring at least onefeature of the task, exercises, users, and/or operation of the exercisemodules 20 in a preset mode.

The first main function of the control unit 44 is to provide the task ofthe story, scenery, and/or video (or computer) game with primary (or 10)features. Such 1° task features typically consists of 10 task types and1° task extents, where the task may be provided in such images of asingle still picture with a single or multiple portions, a series of thepictures, and/or a video clip, or optionally provided in such auditory,olfactory, and/or tactile features. The 1° task types include variousfeatures such as, e.g., a task goal (e.g., viewing or watching theimages or other features of the virtual environment) for the task,proceeding along such stages of the task, attaining a preset objectiveby competing a preset program or another user, and the like), a numberof stages or levels required therefor (i.e., a number of portions formedin the still pictures, number of still pictures in the video clip,and/or number of parts in the video clip), means to attain the task goal(e.g., performing the exercise, applying the user inputs, and the like),means to proceed through the task stages (e.g., performing the exercise,applying such user inputs, monitoring the variables or parameters of themodules 20, 50, and monitoring the features of the user(s), exercise(s),and/or operation(s)), and the like. The 1° task extents may includevarious features such as, e.g., a number of stages defined in the task,a current stage of the user in the task, a duration of the user in thecurrent stage, a duration of the task, and the like.

The second main function of the control unit 44 is to provide the taskof the story, scenery or video (or computer) game in the images (oroptionally sounds, smells, sensations) with secondary (or 2°) features.The 2° task features typically consists of 2° task types and 2° taskextents, where such a task is provided in such images of a single stillpicture including a single or multiple portions, a series of suchpictures, and/or a video clip, optionally provided in such sounds,and/or optionally provided in such smells and/or sensations. The 2°features of the task defined in the images of a still picture with asingle or multiple portions may include, e.g., selecting a presetportion, a direction or a sequence of viewing a next portion, a speed ora temporal gap between viewing different portions, a viewing area or anextent of zoom, a view angle when the images may be rotated, and thelike. Such 2° features of the task defined in the images of a series ofstill pictures, and/or video clip may include, e.g., selecting a presetpicture thereof, a direction or sequence of viewing a next picture, aspeed or a gap between viewing different pictures, a viewing area or anextent of zoom, a perspective angle of such images, a view angle whenthe images may be rotated, and the like.

Another main function of the control unit 44 is to relate at least onefeature of one of the task, user, exercise done by the user, andoperation of the exercise module 20 with at least one feature of theother thereof, whether directly or through at least one simulated user.The control unit 44 may be arranged to perform such relating based upona fixed relation defined between at least two of such features (i.e.,automatically), based on a relation defined between the features andvaried according to at least one of such features (i.e., automaticallyand/or adaptively), based on the command signals (i.e., manually), basedon the sensed signals (i.e., automatically and/or adaptively), and thelike.

Based upon these major functions, the control unit 44 performs numerousother functions. For example, the control unit 44 receives the commandand sensed signals respectively from the input and sensor units 41, 42and to perform various control operations on such exercise and/or outputmodules 20, 50 in various control modes. The control unit 44 generallydetermines various features of the task of the story, scenery or video(or computer) game defined in such images of the virtual environment, toselect desirable images from multiple sets of images stored in thestorage unit 43 or supplied thereto from various sources, to generatethe images by assembling or composing various features therefor, and thelike. In general, the control unit 44 performs such functions based onvarious features which include the user inputs or command signalsderived therefrom, variables and/or parameters monitored by the sensorunit 42 or sensed signals derived therefrom, and the like. Therefore,the features also include the physical or physiological conditions ofthe user(s) monitored by the sensor unit 42, control programs oralgorithms stored therein or supplied thereto by the user(s) or externalsources, and so on. In addition, such features may include variousvariables and/or parameters related or associated to the exercisemodules 20A, 20B, exercise available therewith, and so on, whereexamples of such features may include, but not limited to, a type of theexercises, an extent of exercises attained by the user(s) during theexercise(s), a movement thereof for the exercise(s), and the like. It isappreciated that the extent of exercises may be defined as any ofvarious criteria examples of which may include, but not limited to, aduration of a presence or absence of the user(s) on or near the exercisemodules 20, a duration of exercises done against or onto the exercisemodules 20, a duration of the exercises performed by the user(s), aduration of the exercises (or energy) done on the user(s), themechanical load presented by and/or set in the exercise modules 20against the user(s), a product of the load and any of such durations, avariable which may be represented as a mathematical function of theload, a number of calories consumed by the user(s), a work done againstor onto the exercise modules 20 by the user(s), a work done on theuser(s) by the exercise modules 20, and the like, where the load may bedeemed as a variable or a parameter determining an amount of energyconsumed by the user(s) in consummating an unit displacement or an unitdeformation of a specific part of the exercise modules 20 or body partof such user(s). It is understood that such a load may be quantified byvarious means examples of which may include, but not limited to, adistance in which the user(s) travels with respect to a preset part ofthe exercise modules 20, a length along which such a part travels ordeforms, an angle about which the part bends or deforms, or a weight ofsuch a part which is moved or deformed by the user(s). To such ends, theexercise modules 20 may manipulate such a load by various means examplesof which may include, but not limited to, adjusting a speed or an angleof a preset part of the exercise modules 20, a modulus of the part, itsspring constant or viscosity, its weight or its length.

The control unit 44 may acquire various features of the virtualenvironment, may transfer such images or other features related theretoto other units 41-43 of the control module 40 or, alternatively, toother modules 20, 50. The control unit 44 may receive such images (orother features) from other units 41-43 of the control module 40 or othermodules 20, 50 of the system 10. To this end, various units of thecontrol unit 44 may perform communication-related functions or,alternatively, the control module 40 may include variouscommunication-related units, both for performing transfer of at leastone feature between the exercise modules 20 or between multiple users.

In one example, the control module 40 may include at least one video-inunit for acquiring such images (including their visual features orelements) or, at least a portion of such a control unit 44 may acquirethe images. In general, the images are generated by or retrieved fromthe video-in unit (or the portion of the control unit 44), generated byor retrieved from other units 41-43 of the control module 40, ortransmitted thereto by other units 41-43 thereof or by an externalsource such as the external device or user(s). The images may beacquired as a still picture, a series of the still pictures, a videoclip or a mixture, where the images may be in black-and-white or inmultiple colors, while each image includes at least one object orbackground. The images may be formed or generated in various ways. Forexample, the video-in unit (or a portion of the control unit 44) maystore a single or multiple images and retrieve one or more of suchtherefrom, may provide a single or multiple images by superposing theobject onto the background or composing such images from one or multiplevisual elements, and/or may receive or download a single or multipleimages from the storage unit 43 or the external source such as, e.g., aninternet, wired or wireless broadcast, an user of another exercisemodule, an user of another external device, and the like. The video-inunit may acquire a single or multiple images by itself or using thesensor unit 42. In all of such examples, each image may include at leastone object or background each respectively representing an animation ofa real or abstract object, an animation of a real or abstractbackground, and the like, where the object may be a living organism(such as a person, an animal, a plant, and the like) or a nonlivingobject, while the background may be the living organism or nonlivingobject. Accordingly, the object may correspond to the user(s) recreatedby the animation, simulated object included in the images, controllableobject included in the background, and the like. In each example,contents of the images (i.e., object and background) may be an animatedor arbitrary object and/or arbitrary scene. In addition, the objectand/or background may be associated or related to a preset event,geographic location, timing, and the like. In general, the video-in unitmay manipulate various features of the images depending upon variousfactors as, e.g., the source of the images, type of the source, contentsof the images, and/or such aspects each determined by various factorssuch as, e.g., the user inputs, command or sensed signals, controlsignals, variables and/or parameters monitored by the sensor unit 42,conditions of the user(s), and operations.

To provide the images of desired visual features, the video-in unit mayprovide desired images in a preset viewpoint of the user. To this end,the video-in unit may manipulate various features of the images, whereexamples of such features may include, but not limited to, shapes and/orsizes of such images or their portions, contents or colors thereof,brightness or hues thereof, sharpness or zoom thereof, contraststhereof, temporal or spatial characteristics, distributions, and/orvariations of such aspects, and the like. It is appreciated that theimages may be provided based on a preset view angle of or distance tothe user or that such images may be provided to simulate the view angleor distance. When desirable, the control unit 44 may zoom in or out suchimages, vary the view angle thereof, vary the distance thereto, rotatesuch images with respect to a preset base, and the like.

To this end, the video-in unit may include any prior art camera,camcorder, and/or other image recording devices including charge-coupleddevices capable of acquiring such images. The control unit 44 mayinclude a single camera (or camcorder) or multiple cameras (orcamcorders) for acquiring the same or different images therewith. Thevideo-in unit may acquire the images of the body part of the user(s),where the video-in unit may be disposed to preferentially aim the bodypart. Accordingly, the preset or target area for the video-in unit maybe, e.g., an entire visible area of the user(s), area around the facethereof, area covering an upper torso thereof or area defining a heightsimilar to that of the user(s). The video-in unit may be disposed in theexercise modules 20 or, alternatively, at least a portion of theexercise modules 20 (or another external audiovisual device) may also berecruited as the video-in unit. The sensor unit 42 may be used toacquire the images as well.

In another example, the control module 40 may have at least onevideo-out unit for generating such images (including visual features orelements), or at least a portion of such a control unit 44 may generatethe images. Such images may be generated by and/or retrieved from thevideo-out unit (or a portion of the control unit 44), generated by orretrieved from other units 41-43 of such a module 40 or other modules20, 50 of the system 10, or transmitted thereto by an external sourcesuch as, e.g., an external device or user(s). Depending on the types ofsources, the images may include a still picture, a series of multiplepictures, a video clip, a mixture thereof, and so on. The video-out unitis to perform various functions similar or identical to those of thevisual unit 51 and, therefore, may be replaced by the visual unit 51.Otherwise, further configurations, arrangements, and/or dispositions ofthe video-out unit are similar or identical to those of the visual unit51.

The video-in and/or video-out units (or control unit 44) may acquireand/or generate the images associated or synchronized with otherfeatures. In one example, the video-in and video-out units may associateor synchronize at least one feature of such images with at least onefeature of the user(s) which may include, but not limited to, a face,hand or arm, foot or leg, other body parts, appearance, orientation orposture, movement, and physical or physiological condition thereof. Inanother example, such video-in and/or video-out units may associate orsynchronize at least one feature of the images with at least one offeature of the exercises as set forth herein, each of which may bedetermined by various aspects and/or factors as described above. Inanother example, the video-in and/or video-out units may associate orsynchronize at least one feature of the images with at least one featureof the operations which may also include, but not limited to, variablesand/or parameters of such operations of the exercise modules 20, apreset control program designed therefor, and the like.

In another example, the control module 40 may include at least oneaudio-in unit to acquire the sounds (i.e., auditory features orelements) or, at least a portion of the control unit 44 may acquire thesounds. The sounds may be generated by or retrieved from the audio-inunit (or a portion of the unit 44), generated by or retrieved from otherunits 41-43 of the control module 40 or other modules 20 of the system10, or transmitted thereto by an external source such as an externaldevice or users. The audio-in unit may acquire the sounds by variousmeans, e.g., by acquiring voices of or sounds of the user(s) or otherpersons, those generated by a plant or animal, those of music or soundsgenerated by a nonliving object, where the sounds may be provided in amono, stereo or surround mode. Based on the types of the sources, thesounds may carry the contents (e.g., conversation) or melody (e.g.,instrumental or non-instrumental music) or may not carry any contents(e.g., instrumental music). The sounds may be provided by various means.For example, the audio-in unit may store the sounds and retrieve suchtherefrom, may synthesize the sounds or superposing at least one soundonto another, may receive or download the sounds from the storage unit43 or at least one external source such as an internet, wired orwireless broadcast, an user of another exercise module, or an user ofanother device. The audio-in unit may also acquire the sounds with thesensor unit 42. In such examples, the sounds may include real orsynthesized sounds, where each sound may be generated or represent eachsource. Accordingly, the sounds may correspond to the sounds of theuser(s) in own voices or sounds synthesized or simulated by variousprior art means. In each example, such sounds may be related to orassociated with the preset event, geographic location, timing, person,and/or object. The audio-in unit may manipulate various aspects of thesounds depending on various factors such as the source of such sounds,type thereof, their contents or aspects each of which may be determinedby various factors such as, e.g., the user inputs, command or sensedsignals, control signals, variables or parameters sensed by the sensorunit 42, conditions of the user(s), operations, and the like.

To provide such sounds with desired auditory features, the audio-in unitpreferably provides the desired sounds in the preset viewpoint of theuser. To this end, the audio-in unit may manipulate various features oraspects of the sounds, where examples of such aspects may include, butnot be limited to, a volume or tone of the sounds, a content thereof,frequency distribution thereof, a direction thereof, temporal or spatialcharacteristics, distributions, and variations of such aspects andfeatures, and the like. It is appreciated that the sounds may beprovided based on a preset direction or distance with respect to theuser or that the sounds may be provided to simulate the direction ordistance. The audio-in unit may also control such aspects or features ofthe sounds, change the direction of and/or distance to such sounds, andthe like. To this end, the audio-in unit may be constructed from anyprior art microphones for acquiring such sounds in an audible (orinaudible) frequency range. The audio-in unit may include a single ormultiple microphones for acquiring the same or different soundstherefrom. The audio-in unit may acquire such sounds from a presettarget area of the user, where the audio-in unit may be disposed near amouth or other body parts of the user(s). Therefore, the preset ortarget area may include, e.g., an entire audible area of the user(s), anarea around a mouth thereof, an area encompassing an upper torsothereof, an area defining a height similar to that of the user(s), andthe like. The audio-in unit may be disposed away from the user(s), to beworn thereby over or around a mouth or vocal cord thereof, to be wornthereby over or around a head thereof, to be portably carried thereby,and the like. When desirable, the audio-in unit may be incorporated intothe exercise modules 20A, 20B, or at least a portion of the exercisemodules 20A, 20B or external audiovisual devices may be recruitedtherefor. The sensor unit 42 of the control module 40 may be recruitedtherefor as well.

In another example, the control module 40 may include at least oneaudio-out unit for generate the sounds (including auditory features orelements), or the control unit 44 may generate the sounds. Such soundsmay be generated by or retrieved from the audio-out unit (or a portionof the control unit 44), generated by or retrieved from other units41-43 of the control module 40 or other modules 20 of the system 10,transmitted thereto by an external source such as, e.g., an externaldevice or user(s). Depending on the source types, such sounds may be ina mono, stereo or surround mode. The audio-out unit is to performvarious functions similar or identical to those of the auditory unit 52of the output module 50 and, thus, may be replaced by the auditory unit51. Further configurations, arrangements or dispositions of theaudio-out unit are similar or identical to those of the auditory unit52.

The audio-in and/or audio-out units (or control unit 44) may acquire andgenerate such sounds associated or synchronized with other features. Inone example, such audio-in and/or audio-out units may associate orsynchronize at least one feature of the sounds with at least one offeature of the user(s) as set forth herein. In another example, suchaudio-in and/or audio-out units may associate or synchronize at leastone feature of the sounds with at least one feature of the exercises asset forth herein, which may be decided by various aspects or factors asset forth herein. In another example, the audio-in and/or audio-outunits may associate or synchronize at least one feature of such soundswith at least one feature of the operations such as, e.g., variables orparameters of such operations and a preset control program designedtherefor.

In another example, the control module 40 includes at least onereceiving unit for receiving the signals wirelessly or by wire, or atleast a portion of the control unit 44 may receive the signals. Thereceiving unit (or the portion of the control unit 44) may receive thesignals from the exercise or output modules 20, 50, other units 41-43 ofthe control module 40, or an external source such as an internet, wiredor wireless broadcast. It is appreciated that the signals may carryvarious informations which include various features described above.Therefore, the receiving unit (or the portion of the control unit 44)defines a desirable frequency response or sensitivity capable ofreceiving such informations and features with minimal distortion. Thereceiving unit may be made from any prior art wireless or wired receivercapable of receiving the signals of preset frequency ranges. Thereceiving unit may receive the informations from the storage unit 43 ofthe control module 40, from a provider of a wired or wirelesscommunication, through a global network, and so on. The receiving unitmay operatively couple with the exercise or output modules 20, 50, wherethis unit operates as a “common” receiving unit of the system 10. Thesystem 10 may also include multiple receiving (or control) units atleast one of which serves as a “master” receiving unit and controls therest thereof. Regardless of its types and number, the receiving unit maybe at least partially enclosed by a cover, a divider or a partition asit is desired to enclose the receiving unit inside the system 10. Thereceiving unit may include various prior art wave guides or paths forenhancing reception of such waves. Similar to other modules, thereceiving unit may be incorporated into other units or modules of thesystem 10.

In another example, the control module 40 may include at least onesending unit for transmitting various signals wirelessly or throughwire, or at least a portion of the control unit 44 may transmit thesignals. The signals transmitted by the sending unit (or a portion ofthe control unit 44) carry various informations therealong which includevarious features set forth herein and, accordingly, the sending unitpreferably includes a desirable frequency response or sensitivity fortransmitting the informations or features with minimal distortion. Thesending unit transmits such informations other modules 20, 50 whileobtaining at least one of such features from the storage unit 43,user(s), other modules 20, 50, external sources, and the like. Thesending unit may be fabricated by any prior art wireless or wiredtransmitter for transmitting such signals of preset frequency ranges.The sending unit may transmit such informations to a provider of thewired or wireless communication, to a global network, and the like.Other configurations, arrangements, and/or dispositions of the sendingunit are similar or identical to those of the receiving unit describedin the above paragraph.

Such communication-related units may be operatively coupled to eachother in various modes. For example, each unit may operatively couplewith the rest thereof so that each unit may receive or transmit thesignals as the electrical or optical signals by wire or wirelessly. Inan opposite example, at least one of such units may couple with not allbut only some of the rest of the units such that, e.g., the video-in orvideo-out unit may couple to the audio-in or audio-out unit but not withthe rest thereof. Therefore, detailed coupling modes of such unitsdepend not only on a configuration of such units but also on assignedfunctions of each of such units. As described above, suchcommunication-related units may include multiple of at least one of suchunits of the same type, e.g., including multiple video-in and/orvideo-out units in order to display different and/or overlapping images,including two or more audio-in and/or audio-out units to play differentor overlapping sounds, and the like. At least a portion of thecommunication-related units may be included in the exercise and/oroutput modules 20, 50, and perform the same or similar functions as setforth herein. In this embodiment, such a portion may be classified as apart of the control module 40 or may be deemed as a part of suchexercise or control module 20, 40, depending upon detailed definitionthereof.

Such a control unit 44 may be arranged to transfer of at least onefeature of the task, users, exercises, and/or at least one operation ofthe exercise modules 20 only from one to another of the exercise modules20, between the exercise modules 20, and the like. The control unit 44allows the transfer wirelessly or by wire, without altering any feature(i.e., a simple transfer) by converting or altering at least one featurebased on at least one preset relation (i.e., an equivalent conversion),and the like. To this end, various portions of the control unit 44 maypreferably perform various transfer-related functions or such a controlmodule 40 may include various conversion-related units, both forperforming transfer of at least one feature between the users or betweensuch exercise modules 20. It is appreciated that such transfer(including both of the simple transfer and equivalent conversion) is totransfer the task feature from one to another exercise or output modules20, 50 and that the control unit 44 may perform the transfer directlybetween the modules 20, 50 or indirectly therethrough. Such a controlunit 44 may transfer at least one feature of the users, exercises,and/or operations between the exercise and/or output modules 20, 50 aswell.

Such conversion-related units (or control unit 44) may receive at leastone feature of the task, user(s), exercises, and/or operations andconvert such into the converted (or control) signals at least partlybased on a preset relation. In particular, such conversion-related units(or control unit 44) may generate the converted signals based on thecontrol signals or various features of the task, user(s), exercises,and/or operations, may convert the converted signals into the controlsignals, and the like, although such units may generate the converted orcontrol signals (to be referred to as the “signals” hereinafter) formanipulating various features of the task provided by the control module40 or other external devices defining story-generating,scenery-generating or game-generating capabilities which may or may notbe deemed as a part of the system 10. It is appreciated that suchconversion-related units generate the signals and to deliver suchsignals to the external device, thereby manipulating the device based onthe signals and manipulating at least one task feature based thereon. Tothese ends, such conversion-related units may include various units suchas, e.g., at least one simulator unit, at least one converter unit, andat least one driver unit, where such units may be provided in a singularor plural arrangements. As set forth herein, however, at least one ofsuch units may be incorporated to and/or replaced by at least a portionof the control module 40 or other modules of the system 10. At least oneof such units may be incorporated into or replaced by at least a portionof the control module 40 and/or device. Accordingly, exact dispositionof various conversion-related units or classifications thereof may notbe critical to the scope of this invention as long as the system 10 mayprovide various functions to be disclosed in conjunction with variousconversion-related units.

In one example, such a control module 40 may include at least onesimulator unit for acquiring at least one feature of the task, user(s),exercise(s), and/or operations, or at least a portion of such a controlunit 44 may be arranged to acquire the feature. The simulator unit (orthe portion of the control unit 44) may passively receive the featurefrom another module (or unit) of the system 10 or actively monitor andacquire the feature using any prior art sensors or the sensor unit 42.As set forth herein, the simulator unit acquires at least one exercisefeature and then to convert the acquired feature into the signals, wherethe simulator unit may acquire the desired feature by directlymonitoring such, by estimating the desirable feature from at least oneanother exercise feature, by estimating the desired feature based on atleast one of such features of the user(s), tasks, and/or operations, byreceiving the desirable feature from another module or unit, and thelike. It is appreciated that the simulator unit may acquire the desiredfeature by analyzing various images or sounds provided by other modulesor units or by the external device which may or may not be deemed as thepart of the system 10. When the simulator unit acquires at least onefeature of the task, user(s), and/or operations, such a unit may acquirethe feature by monitoring or estimating through various means similar tothose of acquiring the exercise feature. The simulator unit may acquireat least one task feature and to convert the acquired feature into theconverted or control signals, where the simulator unit acquires thedesired feature of the task by directly monitoring the task, byestimating the desirable feature from at least one another task feature,by estimating the desired feature based on at least one of the featuresof such user(s), exercise(s), and/or operations, by receiving thedesirable feature from another module and/or unit, by receiving thedesirable feature from the external device, by receiving the desiredfeature from another user of another exercise module, and the like. Thesimulator unit may acquire the desired feature by analyzing the imagesand/or sounds generated for the task by the control module 40 or by theexternal device which may or may not be the part of the system 10.

The simulator unit couples with such exercise modules 20 or externaldevice to manipulate at least one operation feature of the modules 20(or device) at least partly based on at least one feature of the task,users, exercises, and/or operations. The simulator unit may acquire thedesired exercise feature by directly coupling to the exercise modules20, indirectly coupling thereto through the control module 40, and thelike. Similarly, the simulator unit may directly couple with theexternal device when the system 10 may drive the device and manipulatingat least one feature of the task provided by the device. The simulatorunit may also operatively couple to the external device by at least oneof other modules or units of the system 10. The simulator unit may beconstructed from any prior art devices capable of acquiring such desiredexercises, task, and/or other features and converting such into theconverted and/or control signals. The simulator unit may include atleast one receiver to receive such a desired feature from the exerciseor control modules 20, 40 or external device, at least one sensor formonitoring the desired exercises, users, and/or task features, and thelike. The simulator unit may be provided as a software driven by othermodules 20, 50, or may be incorporated thereinto.

In another example, the control module 40 may include at least oneconverter unit for assisting the simulator unit (or the portion of thecontrol unit 44) while performing conversion of the acquired feature toconverted or control signals by providing at least one relation andequivalence respectively for the “simple transfer” and “equivalentconversion,” both of which are to be collectively referred to as the“conversion” hereinafter. At least a portion of the control unit 44 mayperform such conversion by providing the relation and equivalence. Theconverter unit may preferably provide such a relation for associating orsynchronizing at least one feature of one of such a task, user(s),exercise(s), and operation of the exercise modules 20 with at least onefeature of at least one another thereof so that various features ofdifferent types may be related to each other at least partly based onthe relation. The converter unit may arrange the relation to account fordiscrepancies in amounts of energy which may be required for performingan unit of various exercises and which may be attributed to differenttypes of exercises, different loads imposed by different exercisemodules 20, differences in physical abilities of the users, and thelike. Thus, the system 10 may perform the “simple transfer” when thecontrol module 40 delivers/or transmits at least one preset featurebetween at least two modules 20, 50 without modifying the preset featureor, alternatively, the system 10 may perform the “equivalent conversion”as the control module 40 may deliver or transmit at least one presetfeature between the modules 20, 50 while altering such a feature basedon the relation. In either example, the system 10 may relate at leastone feature of the task, users, exercises or operations to a differentfeature of the same type, to the same feature of the different type, orto a different feature of a different type.

The converter unit (or the portion of the control unit 44) may performthe simple transfer and/or equivalent conversion based on the presetrelation which may be decided at least partly based on at least onefeature of various types such as, e.g., the task, user(s), exercise(s),operation, and the like. For example, the converter unit may provide therelation and convert at least one feature of one of the above typesdefined in a specific unit (e.g., calories, watts, N, N/m, N-m, minute,meter, and so on) into the same feature of the same type but in adifferent unit, into the same feature of a different type but in thesame unit, into a different feature of the same type but in a differentunit, and/or into a different feature of a different type and in adifferent unit. As a result, the converter unit may synchronize orassociate at least one feature of the exercise(s) with at least onefeature of the task (or vice versa), may associate or synchronize atleast one feature of the user(s) and/or operation(s) with at least onefeature of the task or vice versa, and the like. This function may be ofparticular importance when the conversion unit is to simulate theuser(s) into the simulated user such as, e.g., at least one object orbackground in the images for the task. The converter unit may generatesuch a relation at least partly based on the control signals generatedat least partly based on the user inputs and/or preset program, mayretrieve one or more from multiple relations stored in the system 10,and the like.

The converter unit may keep the relation constant during the exercisesor at least one stage of the task. The converter unit may allow theusers to manually control the relation during the exercises or stage ofthe task. The converter unit may determine the relation at least partlybased upon various signals provided by the users, an user of anotherexercise module or the external device, and so on, with or without anyintervention therefrom. The converter unit may vary the relationautomatically or adaptively at least partly based on at least one factorof the users, task, exercises, and/or operations. The converter unit maybe made of any prior art devices for generating or retrieving the basicrelation or equivalence and utilizing such to generate the converted orcontrol signals. The converter unit may include at least one optionalreceiver to receive such a feature from the exercise or output module20, 50 (or external device), at least one optional sensor for monitoringsuch a feature of the task, users or exercises, at least one processorto generate the relation, and the like. The converter unit may also beprovided as a software and driven by the control and/or other modules20, 40, 50. The converter unit may be incorporated to the control module40, or at least a portion thereof may be incorporated to the exercise oroutput modules 20, 50 (or external device) when desirable.

In another example, the control module 40 may optionally have at leastone driver unit capable of providing the converted or control signalsand manipulating at least one feature of the task provided by theexternal device, or at least a portion of the control unit 44 mayprovide such signals and control the task feature. To this end, thedriver unit may have a configuration or arrangement to communicate withthe external device of only a certain type or at least two externaldevices of different operating types. It is appreciated that detailedconfigurations or arrangements of the driver unit are not critical tothe scope of this invention as far as the driver unit drives theexternal device. The control module 40 may not incorporate any driverunit when the simulator unit, converter unit or its other units 41-44may generate the task and manipulate various features thereof or maydirectly control the external device, which explains why the driver unitis merely an optional unit. The external device may also perform thefunction of the driver unit when desirable. The driver unit may beprovided as a driver of any prior art audiovisual external devicecapable of communicating with at least one module of the system 10. Thedriver unit may have at least one receiver and converter, where thereceiver may receive various signals from the simulator or converterunit, or exercise or output modules 20, 50, while the converter unit mayconvert formats of the signals in desired formats readable by thedevice. The driver unit may be provided as a software driven by thecontrol or other modules of the system 10. Such a driver unit may beincorporated into the control module 40 or at least a portion of thedriver unit may be included in the exercise or output modules 20, 50 orexternal device.

Based upon these major functions, the control unit 44 performs numerousother functions. For example, the control unit 44 receives the commandand sensed signals respectively from the input and sensor units 41, 42and performs various control operations on such exercise or outputmodule 20, 50 in various modes. The control unit 44 may determine thefeatures of the task defined in the images, to select desirable imagesfrom multiple sets of images stored in the storage unit 43 or suppliedthereto from various sources, to generate the images by assembling orcomposing various features, and the like. The control unit 44 performssuch functions based on various features including the user inputs orcommand signals, variables or parameters monitored by the sensor unit42, sensed signals, and so on. Thus, the control unit 44 may monitor thefeatures such as the physical or physiological conditions of the usersmonitored by the sensor unit 42, control programs or algorithms storedtherein or supplied thereto by the users or external sources, and thelike. Such features may include various variables or parameters relatedor associated to the exercise modules 20 or exercises, where examples ofsuch features may include, but not be limited to, a type of the exerciseand an extent thereof attained by the user. Such an extent is defined asvarious criteria examples of which may include, but not be limited to, aduration of presence or absence of the users on or near the exercisemodules 20, a duration of such exercises done against or onto theexercise modules 20, a duration of the exercises performed by the users,a duration of the exercises or energy done by or onto the users, a loadpresented by or set in the exercise modules 20 against the users, aproduct of the load and any of such durations, a mathematical functionof the load, a number of calories estimated to be consumed by the user,a work done against or onto the exercise modules 20 by the users, a workdone on the users by the exercise modules 20, and the like, where such aload may be deemed as a variable or a parameter determining an amount ofenergy consumed by the user in consummating an unit displacement and/ordeformation of a specific part (e.g., the actuating part) of theexercise modules 20 or body parts of the users.

As described above, the control unit 44 may be arranged to manipulate atleast one feature of one of the task, users, exercises, and/oroperations of the exercise modules 20 at least partly based on at leastone feature of another thereof. Such manipulation may be classified inthree modes, i.e., manipulating the task based on the exercises,manipulating the exercises based on the task, and both.

For example, the control unit 44 may monitor the users or exercisemodules 20, acquire at least one feature of such users, exercises,and/or operation of the exercise modules 20, and manipulate at least onetask feature at least partly based on the monitored feature. To thisend, the control unit 44 monitors the operation or user feature by thesensor unit 42, generates the task in the images (with or withoutincluding the simulated user) of the virtual environment at least partlybased on the monitored feature, and manipulates the output module 50 todisplay the images (or with the sounds). Therefore, the control module40 may manipulate the task (i.e., its features) at least partly directlybased upon the exercises (i.e., exercise feature) or indirectly basedthereon (i.e., user or operation feature), thereby allowing the users tomanipulate the task and to proceed through the task at least partlybased on the exercises. The control unit 44 may vary the mode ofmanipulation in various means, e.g., in response to the command signals(i.e., manually), to the sensed signals (i.e., automatically oradaptively), or at least partly based upon at least one of such featuresof the task, users, exercises, and/or operation features (i.e.,automatically or adaptively).

In another example, the control unit 44 may monitor the images for thetask (or simulated user therein), acquire at least one feature of theimages (or that of the simulated user), and then manipulate at least oneoperation feature of the exercise modules 20 at least partly based onthe monitored task feature. To this end, the control module 44 mayoperatively couple to the load of the exercise modules 20, manipulatethe load at least partly based on the monitored feature, and thenmanipulate the output module 50 to display such images (or simulateduser) of which the feature is determined at least partly based on themanipulated load of such exercise modules 20. Thus, the control module40 manipulates the operation feature of the exercise modules 20 at leastpartly based upon the task, thereby directly affecting the operation ofsuch exercises by the task feature and indirectly affecting the typesand/or extents of such exercises to be performed by the users and thephysical or physiological conditions of the users which result from suchexercises at least partly based on performance of the task. The controlunit 44 may change the manipulation mode in various means, e.g., inresponse to the command signals (i.e., manually), to the sensed signals(i.e., adaptively or automatically), or at least partly based on atleast one of the features including those features of the task, users,exercises, and/or operation (i.e., automatically or adaptively).

In another example, the control unit 44 may perform such manipulationseither sequentially (i.e., one after another) or simultaneously. Thatis, the control unit 44 may manipulate at least one feature of the taskat least partly based on the monitored features of the users, exercises,and/or operation or may manipulate at least one operation feature atleast partly based on the monitored task feature. This control unit 44may change its mode of manipulation based upon the command signals(i.e., manually), sensed signals (i.e., automatically or adaptively), atleast one of such features (i.e., automatically or adaptively), and thelike. It is appreciated that the sequential manipulation is best suitedwhen a single user performs different exercises on, with or against oneexercise module 20 and views the images for the task by the outputmodule 50, although it is not impossible to use the simultaneousmanipulation mode therefor. Whereas, the simultaneous manipulation isbest suited as multiple users perform same or different exercises on,with or against multiple exercise modules 20 while viewing such imagesfor the task using individual output modules 50. The sequential orsimultaneous manipulation is performed in real time so that a desiredfeature may be transferred between the exercise and output modules 20,50, although the control unit 44 may store such features of the firstexercising user and then transfer such to another user later. In bothmanipulations, the control unit 44 may transfer the feature by wire orwirelessly or may transfer the feature with or without modifying atleast a portion thereof.

When the control unit 44 is to manipulate various features related to atleast one object of such images, such features may include variousfeatures associated with the objects, where examples of the features mayinclude, but not be limited to, the type of the object (i.e., ananimated or synthesized object), a mode thereof (i.e., black and whitein a grey-scale or color-scale), a dimension thereof (i.e., two- orthree-dimensional), a configuration thereof, an arrangement and/ordisposition thereof, and so on. As the control unit 44 simulates theuser(s) into the simulated user, the manipulatable features of thesimulated user may similarly include, but not be limited to, the type ofthe simulated user, its mode, its dimension, its configuration, or itsarrangement and/or disposition. Such an object may be selected to bedirectly manipulated by at least one feature of the user(s), task,exercise, and/or operation or, in the alternative, may be the simulateduser simulating or synthesizing the user(s). It is appreciated that thecontrol unit 44 may generate one or multiple simulated user for thesequential manipulation but may generate multiple simulated users forthe simultaneous manipulation, although the reverse is feasible.

The control unit 44 may manipulate at least one of such features basedon at least one another thereof while providing the user with the taskin the images of such desired features. In one example, the control unit44 may provide (i.e., generate or select) the images of the task in apreset perspective of the user. For example, such a feature associatedor related with the users may not be included in the images. The controlunit 44 may also include in the images at least one user feature whichmay be constant or varying based upon other features. In anotherexample, the control unit 44 may construct the images in an arrangementthat any feature of the images may be varied by the users depending onother features. In particular, the control unit 44 may include in suchimages at least one object at least one feature of which is determinedat least partially based on at least one another feature. Thus, thecontrol unit 44 may allow the users to manipulate at least one featureof the object, thereby allowing him or her to manipulate the imagesdirectly or indirectly by manipulating at least one of such features.The control unit 44 may instead construct the images for the task whichthe users may not be able to directly control. In another example, thecontrol unit 44 may include at least one object in such images, whilesimulating at least one characteristic of the users by the objectcorresponding to the simulated user. Therefore, the control unit 44 maychange at least one feature of the images for the task (or its simulateduser) based on various features of the users or exercise modules 20(i.e., their operations). The control unit 44 may thereafter manipulateat least one feature of such images based upon at least one of suchfeatures, user inputs, command or sensed signals, conditions of theusers, or operations.

The control unit 44 may arrange such images to simulate the users intoat least one object or background of the task, as at least one voice orother auditory features, and the like. It is appreciated that thecontrol unit 44 may unilaterally manipulate the object, background,voices, sounds, and so on, while simulating the users as such, but theusers may not manipulate such in a reverse mode. In the alternative, thecontrol unit 44 may be arranged to allow such control by the users.Accordingly, the control unit 44 may manipulate at least one feature ofthe images for the task based on at least one of such features, userinputs, command or sensed signals, conditions of the users, oroperations.

The control unit 44 may use the images for the task or features tocontrol various operations of the exercise modules 20. For example, thecontrol unit 44 may provide (i.e., generate or select) such images inthe users' (or another) perspective and then to manipulate suchoperations of the exercise modules 20 based upon at least one of thefeatures. In another example, the control unit 44 simulates the usersinto at least one of such features of the images and control suchoperations by manipulating the simulated portion of the feature of suchimages. In another example, the control unit 44 may allow the users todirectly manipulate at least one feature of the images and directlycontrol such operations or may control the operations indirectly usingthe manipulatable feature of the images for the task.

Any conventional control device may be used as the control unit 44 ofthe control module 40 of the present invention. Accordingly, the controlunit 44 may include various electric elements such as a resistor, acapacitor, an inductor, an amplifier, a diode, and the like, details ofwhich are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art of theelectrical control system. Such a control unit 44 may be formed on acircuit board, may be fabricated as a microchip, and the like. As far asthe control unit 44 may be able to perform various control functions setforth herein, the control unit 44 may be provided in almost any priorart processes and in almost any prior art configurations.

The control unit 44 may be disposed into various positions of the system10. For example, the control unit 44 may be formed physically separatefrom the exercise or output module 20, 50, or may be disposed on or inthe modules 20, 50. The control unit 44 may operatively couple withother parts of the system 10 by wire or wirelessly, depending on itsdisposition or structure. In addition, at least a portion of the controlunit 44 may be incorporated in the portable or wearable articles so thatthe users may perform the exercises while providing the user inputswithout stopping the exercises. At least a portion of the control unit44 may be worn around the users to allow the control unit 44 to performits functions. Other configurations, arrangements, and/or dispositionsof the control unit 44 are same or similar to those of the overallcontrol module 40 as far as the control unit 44 performs such functions.

Various units (including those units related to the communication orconversion) of the control module 40 may operatively couple to eachother in various modes. For example, each unit may couple with the restthereof and receive or transmit various informations carried along theelectrical or optical signals by wire or wirelessly. Conversely, atleast one of such units may couple with one or more but not all of suchunits where, e.g., the storage unit 43 couples with the control unit 44but not with the sensor unit 42. Accordingly, the detailed couplingmodes of such units depend not only on an overall configuration of thecontrol module 40 but also on those functions assigned to each unit. Thecontrol module 40 requires the control unit 44 but not necessarily needsthe input, sensor or storage unit 41-43. The input unit 41 may also bereplaced by at least one exercise module 20 capable of receiving theuser inputs and relaying such (or command signals) to the control unit44. The sensor unit 42 may not be needed as the control unit 44 maymonitor the variables or parameters, when the control unit 44 does notinclude a feedback control mechanism, and the like. The control module40 may not need the storage unit 43 as the control unit 44 provides orgenerates the task and its features based on various informationssupplied thereto by the users or from an external source. By the sametoken, the control module 40 may include multiple units of the same ordifferent types such that, e.g., the control module 40 may include twoor more control units 44 performing different or redundant functions,two or more sensor units 42 monitoring the same or different variablesor parameters, each monitoring the same variable or parameter indifferent positions, and so on. At least a portion of the control module40 may be disposed in the exercise or output module 20, 50 in order toperform the same or similar functions. In this embodiment, this portionmay be classified as a part of the control module 40 or may form a partof the exercise and/or output module 20, 50.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exemplary exercise systemmay be embodied in various configurations and/or arrangements. FIGS. 2Ato 2F depict schematic diagrams of exemplary exercise systemsincorporating therein a different number of modules. It is appreciatedthat not every module or unit of the system is included in the figuresbut that the modules and/or units set forth herein may be incorporatedinto such systems and perform the above functions as set forthhereinabove.

In one exemplary embodiment and as exemplified in FIG. 2A, an exemplaryexercise system 10 includes two exercise modules 20A, 20B, controlmodules 40A, 40B, and output modules 50A, 50B, where one control module40A manipulates one exercise and output module 20A, 50A, while anothercontrol module 40B manipulates another exercise and output module 20B,50B. Each of such modules 20A and 20B, 40A and 40B, 50A and 50B, aredisposed in different locations and may communicate with each othereither directly, indirectly through another module, through an externalprovider, and so on. Such modules 20A and 20B, 40A and 40B, 50A and 50B)may be independent of each other, may perform same, different orredundant functions, and the like.

In another exemplary embodiment and as exemplified in FIG. 2B, anexemplary exercise system 10 has two exercise modules 20A, 20B, twooutput modules 50A, 50B, but a single control module 40, where theexercise modules 20A, 20B may communicate with each other or beindependent of each other, while the output modules 50A, 50B maycommunicate with each other or may be independent of each other, mayperform the same, different or redundant functions, and so on. However,the single control module 40 may manipulate the exercise modules 20A,20B and output modules 50A, 50B. In a related embodiment and asexemplified in FIG. 2C, an exemplary exercise system 10 has two exercisemodules 20A, 20B, two control modules 40A, 40B, and a single outputmodule 50, where the exercise modules 20A, 20B may communicate with eachother or may be independent of each other, while the control modules40A, 40B may communicate with each other, be independent of each other,perform the same, different or redundant functions, and the like. Thesingle output module 40 may provide the images for the exercise modules20A, 20B and manipulated by the control modules 40A, 40B.

In another exemplary embodiment and as exemplified in FIG. 2D, anexemplary exercise system 10 includes two exercise modules 20A, 20B, asingle output module 50, but a single control module 40, where theexercise modules 20A, 20B may communicate with each other or beindependent of each other. The single control module 40 may manipulatethe exercise modules 20A, 20B and output module 50A, and the singleoutput module 50 may then display the images for the exercise modules20A, 20B either sequentially or simultaneously.

In another exemplary embodiment and as exemplified in FIG. 2E, anexemplary exercise system 10 may include a single exercise module 20, asingle output module 50, and a single control module 40. This system 10cooperates with another exercise module or another system which isdisposed in the same location and includes at least one exercise moduleso that a single user may perform different exercises sequentially ormultiple users performs the same or different exercises simultaneously.In a related embodiment and as described in FIG. 2F, an exemplaryexercise system 10 includes a single exercise module 20, a singlecontrol module 40, and a pair of output modules 50A, 50B. This system 10preferably cooperates with another exercise module or another systemwhich is disposed in the same location and includes at least oneexercise module such that a single user may perform different exercisessequentially or multiple users performs the same or different exercisessimultaneously.

In another aspect of the present invention, such exercise systems may beembodied in various configurations and/or arrangements. FIGS. 3A and 3Bare schematic perspective views of exemplary exercise systems each ofwhich includes two exercise modules according to the present invention.It is appreciated that not every module and/or unit of the systems areshown in the figures but that such modules and/or their units describedhereinabove may be incorporated into such systems and perform the abovefunctions as set forth hereinabove.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and asexemplified in FIG. 3A, an exemplary exercise system 10 includes twoexercise modules 20A, 20B, at least one control module (not shown in thefigure), and two output modules 50A, 50B (only their portions includedin the figure). As set forth herein, the control and output modules 40,50A, 50B may include at least one or all of the aforementioned unitsthereof.

The system 10 includes two exercise modules 20A, 20B each of which isprovided as a prior art treadmill machine with a frame 21A, 21B and atrack 22A, 22B, where each frame 21A, 21B forms a basic body of eachexercise module 20A, 20B, while each track 22A, 22B is arranged totranslate and to allow the user to walk or to run thereon. On a frontend of each frame 21A, 21B is provided a stand 21S extending upward andbifurcating vertically while forming a pair of handles 21H which mayassist the user to hold on thereto while engaging running or walkingwith or on each exercise module 20A, 20B. The frames 21A, 21B furtherextend forward to form couplers 21C of which functions are to beprovided below. Such exercise modules 20A, 20B include numerous otherparts which are not included in the figure but commonly seen in theprior art treadmill machine. For example, the exercise modules 20A, 20Bhave electric actuators and controllers capable of translating thetracks 22A, 22B at preset speeds or those selected by the user. Suchmodules 20A, 20B may have gear assemblies or their equivalents to adjustthe speeds of the tracks 22A, 22B, to manipulate heights or ascendingangles of the tracks 22A, 22B with respect to the ground, and the like.

Each output module 50A, 50B includes a full-size visual unit 51A, 51Bforming an image domain 51M and including an auditory unit 52, anolfactory unit 53, and a tactile unit 54. Each visual unit 51A, 51B isprovided as a projection screen including a projector (not shown in thefigure), TV, LED display panel, PDP, and the like, each capable ofdisplaying thereon a single or multiple images to provide such images ofthe virtual environment for the task of the story, scenery, and/or video(or computer) game. It is noted that each visual unit 51A, 51B of thisembodiment defines the image domain slightly convex toward each exercisemodule 20A, 20B, although each visual unit 51A, 51B may instead define aflat image domain 51M. When desirable, the system 10 may include asingle visual unit 51 defining multiple portions in its image domain 51Mor, in the alternative, such a system 10 may have multiple visual units51A, 51B to display multiple images on their multiple images domains51M. Each visual unit 51A, 51B may be disposed at a preset arrangementwith respect to each exercise module 20A, 20B by being at leastpartially supported by or coupled to the coupler 21C. The couplers 21Cmay support such visual units 51A, 51B in a fixed disposition or suchcouplers 21C may movably support the visual units 51A, 51B to adjusttheir disposition with respect thereto. The visual units 51A, 51B mayfurther define the image domain 51M which is asymmetric vertically orhorizontally, disposed preferentially to one side of each exercisemodule 20A, 20B, encloses a greater portion or angle of such exercisemodules 20A, 20B which are transversely disposed with respect to avertical direction which is perpendicular to a vertical axis of eachexercise module 20A, 20B, and the like. Such visual units 51A, 51B mayalso be disposed in other positions or orientations as far as theuser(s) may watch the images thereon while engaging the same ordifferent exercises. Each auditory unit 52A, 52B includes multiplespeakers and is generally disposed alongside each visual unit 51A, 51B.In this embodiment, each auditory unit 52A, 52B disposes multiple setsof speakers (e.g., a first set of speakers on one vertical edge of thevisual unit 51A, 51B and a second set thereof on an opposing verticaledge thereof), thereby playing sounds in a stereo mode. Different numberof speakers may be disposed on different positions of the system 10 indifferent arrangements as well, as far as each auditory unit 52A, 52Bmay be able to effectively deliver the sounds to the user(s) engaged inexercise on, with or against each exercise module 20A, 20B. Although notshown in this figure, the visual or auditory units 51A, 51B, 52A, 52Bmay include at least one storage or driver for retrieving stored imagesor sounds and for providing retrieved images or sounds to the user(s),where such storage or driver may be disposed in various positions of thesystem 10 as long as such a disposition may not hinder normal operationof the visual and/or auditory units 51A, 51B, 52A, 52B. It is alsoappreciated that the electrical energy for actuating such visual orauditory units 51A, 51B, 52A, 52B may be directly supplied thereto orsuch units 51A, 51B, 52A, 52B may receive electrical energy from a powersupplying the energy to the exercise modules 20A, 20B. Although notshown in the figure, the exercise modules 20A, 20B are disposed indifferent locations and include one of the control and output modules40A, 40B, 50A, 50B, where at least one module in one locationcommunicates with at least one another in another location via a localor global network.

The output module 50A, 50B may also include the olfactory units 53A, 53Bto give off various smells to the user(s) during exercises. To this end,the olfactory 53A, 53B have at least one storage for storing at leastone chemical substance and at least one dispenser for discharging thesubstance out of the storage toward the user(s) through outlets such as,e.g., openings, nozzles, tubes, and the like. The olfactory units 53A,53B of this embodiment provides a series of nozzles or openings on topof the left and right sets of speakers of the auditory units 52A, 52B,thereby giving off different smells in a stereo mode or giving off thesame smell of different intensity therefrom. It is appreciated that thestorage or dispenser of such olfactory units 53A, 53B may be disposed inany positions of the system 10 as long as far disposition may not hindernormal operation thereof. It is further appreciated that the olfactoryunits 53A, 53B or their various parts may receive the electrical energyby a common power line or directly through another line coupled to asource of such energy. The output modules 50A, 50B may have the tactileunits 54A, 54B to generate and deliver the mechanical, thermal,electrical, and/or optical sensations to the user(s). The tactile units54A, 54B of this embodiment may include multiple applicatorspreferentially disposed along a pair of handles 21H of each exercisemodules 20A, 20B. Depending upon its characteristics, such tactile units54A, 54B may generate translating movements, rotational movements, orvibration of such applicators for delivering such mechanical sensationssuch that the user(s) may feel the intended tactile feature of thevirtual environment. The tactile units 54A, 54B may instead apply theelectrical potential across such applicators or may flow the electriccurrent through at least one of such applicators, thereby allowing theuser(s) to feel the electrical sensations for the virtual environment.Contrary to those of the figure, the tactile units 54A, 54B may includethe applicators which are disposed in other parts of the exercise and/oroutput modules 20A, 20B, 50 and deliver various sensations to theuser(s), where such dispositions may not be critical to the scope of thepresent invention as long as the tactile units 54A, 54B may properlyoperate in such dispositions.

The output modules 50A, 50B may include the display units 55A, 55Bdisposed on top of such stands 21S of each exercise module 20A, 20B. Thedisplay units 55A, 55B display various variables or parametersassociated with operations of various modules 20A, 20B, 40A, 40Bincluding the output modules 50A, 50B. Therefore, each output module50A, 50B may have its own display unit 55A, 55B or may share a displaypanel of each exercise module 20A, 20B as its display unit. In thisrespect, the display units are deemed as a part of the exercise orcontrol modules 20A, 20B, 40A, 40B, depending on the usage and/or modeof coupling. Other characteristics of various modules and their units ofthe system 10 have been set forth hereinabove.

In operation, multiple (two in this example) users perform the same ordifferent exercises using multiple (two in this example) exercisemodules 20A, 20B. That us, a first user sets a first exercise module 20Aor a first control module 40A in order to perform first exercise and toprovide desired first images (or first virtual environment) for thetask. For example, the first user selects what kind of first images aregenerated by the first control module in a desired mode, and providesthe settings to those modules. The user then turns on the first exercisemodule 20A, translates its track 22A at a desirable speed, beginswalking or running thereon, and so on. Concurrently with the first user,a second user may set a second exercise module 20B and perform secondexercise which is identical to, similar to or different from the firstexercise, where the second user also performs the exercise of running orwalking on the track 22B in this example. The second user also selectssecond images for the task, where the task for the second user istypically same as that for the first user and where the second imagesmay be identical or similar to the first images, may be such firstimages viewed in a different perspective, or may be different images ofthe same task. Such first and/or second control modules may monitor atleast one feature of the first and second exercises, the first andsecond users, and/or operation of such first and second exercise modules20A, 20B, respectively, and manipulate at least one feature of the taskat least partly based on the monitored feature, whereby the first andsecond users perform the exercises while proceeding along the taskdirectly or indirectly based upon the first and/or second exercises.Alternatively, the first and/or second control modules may monitor atleast one feature of the task performed by the first and/or second usersincluded in the images for the task, and then manipulate at least onefeature of the operation of the first and/or second exercise modules20A, 20B at least partly based on the monitored feature, whereby thefirst and second user perform the first and second exercises of whichthe features are directly or indirectly decided by the task in which thefirst and second users proceed while competing each other.

The system 10 transfers the task (or another) feature between the firstand second exercise modules 20A, 20B by transmitting the features of thetask (e.g., a status of the task, a current stage of the user, a statusof the simulated user, other variables or parameters of the task, andthe like) or other features from the first modules 20A, 40A, 50A andthen receiving such features by the second modules 20B, 40B, 50B. It isappreciated that such transfer may be performed directly between suchexercise modules 20A, 20B, may be performed by the output module(s), maybe controlled by the first (or second) control module which monitors andsupplies requisite features to such exercise modules 20A, 20B and/oroutput modules, and the like.

In addition, the first and/or second control modules 40 may preferablycompare the features of the task performed by the first and secondusers, monitored features of such first and second users, monitoredfeatures of such first and second exercises, and/or monitored featuresof the operations of the first and second exercise modules 20A, 20B.Based upon these features, the first and/or second control modules 40may manipulate the task feature of such first and/or second users, maymanipulate the operation feature of such first and second exercisemodules 20A, 20B, and the like, whereby the users may compete each otherin the task. To this end, the first and/or second control modules maymanipulate such features of the task either without altering any of suchfeatures or after modifying at least one of the features at least partlybased on the preset relation. When the users engage in such exercises ofthe same type as exemplified in the figure, the first and/or secondcontrol modules may compare such features without any alteration,although such control modules may also alter one of the features whenthe users selects the loads of the exercise modules 20A, 20B atdifferent levels.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the invention and asexemplified in FIG. 3B, an exemplary exercise system 10 also includestwo exercise modules 20A, 20B, at least one control module (not shown inthe figure), and two output modules 50A, 50B (only their portionsincluded in the figure). As set forth herein, such control and outputmodules 40, 50A, 50B may include at least one or all of theaforementioned units thereof.

The system 10 includes two exercise modules 20A, 20B a first of which issimilar or identical to that of FIG. 3B and a second of which is aconventional weight lift equipment. The second exercise module 20Bincludes a frame 21C, a pair of handles 21HC, a chair 23, and multipleweights 24, where such a frame 21C defines a basic body of the thirdexercise module 20C, where such weights 24 are selectively loaded andcoupled to the handles 21HC, and where the second user sits on the chair23 and engages in weight lifting by moving the handles 21HC. Moreparticularly, the frame 21C encloses the chair 23 and movably retains apair of handles 21HC disposed in locations accessible by a second userwhen sitting on the chair 23. Multiple weights 24 are stacked behind thechair 23, and arranged to be releasably loaded onto a connector (notshown in this figure) which mechanically couples with the handles 21HC.These handles 21HC are arranged to pivot about centers of rotation (notshown in the figure) and to be disposed at a shoulder level of thesecond user sitting on the chair 23. Similar to that of FIG. 3A, thesecond exercise module 20C may include numerous other parts not shown inthe figure but commonly seen in the prior art lifting machines as well.Although not included in the figure, the exercise modules 20A, 20B aredisposed in different locations and include one of the control andoutput modules 40A, 40B, 50A, 50B, where at least one module in onelocation communicates with at least one another module in anotherlocation via a global network.

In operation, multiple (e.g., two in this example) users perform thesame or different exercises on, with or against two exercise modules20A, 20B of the system 10. For example, a first user sets a firstexercise module 20A and/or a first control module 40A to perform firstexercise and to provide the first images (or sounds) for the task. Theuser turns on the first exercise module 20A, translates its track 22A ata preset speed, and begins walking or running thereover. A second useralso sets a second exercise module 20B and performs second exercise oflifting the weights 24 by pivoting the handles 21HC. The second userselects second images (and/or second sounds) for the task similar tothat of FIG. 3A. The first and/or second control modules monitor atleast one feature of the first and second exercises, first and secondusers, and/or operation of the first and second exercise modules 20A,20B, respectively, and manipulates at least one feature of the task atleast partly based upon the monitored feature, whereby the first andsecond users perform such exercises while performing the task directlyor indirectly based upon the first and/or second exercises.Alternatively, the first and/or second control modules monitor at leastone feature of the task performed by the first and/or second users anddisplayed on such images for the task, and manipulates at least onefeature of at least one operation of the first and/or second exercisemodules 20A, 20B at least partly based on the monitored feature, wherebythe first and second user perform such first and second exercises whosefeatures are directly or indirectly decided by the task in which theusers proceed, in which the first and second users compete each other,and the like.

In addition, the first and/or second control modules 40 may preferablycompare the features of the task performed by the first and secondusers, monitored features of such first and second users, monitoredfeatures of such first and second exercises, and/or monitored featuresof the operations of the first and second exercise modules 20A, 20B.Based upon these features, the first and/or second control modules 40may manipulate the task feature of such first and/or second users, maymanipulate the operation feature of such first and second exercisemodules 20A, 20B, and the like, whereby the users may compete each otherin the task. To this end, the first and/or second control modules maymanipulate such features of the task either without altering any of suchfeatures or after modifying at least one of the features at least partlybased on the preset relation. When the users engage in such exercises ofthe different type, such first and/or second control modules may comparesuch features and then modify at least one of such features as explainedin the case of the equivalent conversion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a simulating exercise systemmay simulate an user thereof into at least one simulated user defined ina task and manipulate various features of the user, task, exercise,and/or exercise module at least partly based on at least one feature ofthe same type or a different type. FIG. 4A shows a schematic perspectiveview of an exemplary simulating exercise system including an exercisemodule and simulating an user of the exercise module into a simulateduser which is defined in a task and which is arranged to compete againsta preset program stored in and/or provided to the system according tothe present invention. It is to be understood that not every moduleand/or unit of the simulating system may be shown in the figure but thatthose modules and/or units thereof described hereinabove as well asthose of the co-pending Applications may be included in the system forperforming various functions as set forth herein and in the co-pendingApplications, respectively. It is also appreciated that any of the aboveunits of the control and conversion modules may be incorporated intovarious exposed and/or hidden locations of the simulating exercisingsystem. It is further appreciated that an upper panel of the figurerepresents the perspective view of the entire system, while a lowerpanel of the figure visually explains a preset task defined for an userwho may be engaged in exercise also provided by the system.

An exemplary simulating exercise system 10 is similar to that of FIG.3A, except that the figure only focuses on one exercise module 20disposed in one location. Accordingly, it is appreciated that the system10 includes at least one another exercise module which is not shown inthis figure but is disposed in a different location and on, with oragainst which another user performs the same, similar or differentexercise. When desires, the user exercising on the exercise module 20 ofthis figure may be arranged to compete a control module (not shown inthe figure) of the system 10 in a common task of a story, scenery orgame.

As described in the lower panel of FIG. 4A, the control module (or gameconsole) defines the preset task which is to be performed by the user.In this particular example, the task is similar to the prior art videogame which has been known as the “Pac Man” or an equivalent thereofwhich defines the image domain 51M on which several mobile and/orstationary objects and a stationary background are defined therein. Moreparticularly, the task defines a two-dimensional background whichconsists of multiple rectangular blocks which are arranged in rows andcolumns and spaced away from each other while providing vertical andhorizontal routes therebetween. The task defines a simulated user 81,multiple opposing users 82, and multiple credits 83, where the simulateduser 81 may preferably be manipulated by the user and travel verticallyand/or horizontally along the routes defined between the blocks of thebackground, while catching the credits 83 and avoiding encounter withthe opposing users 82. In addition, the task may define a preset goalsuch as, e.g., catching all of such credits 83, surviving through thetask for a preset period of time without being attacked by such opposingusers 82, and the like. In general, the task may dispose the credits 83in preset locations along such routes as defined by a preset programstored in the control module 40 (or game console), as selected based onthe user inputs, as determined by at least one of such features of theuser, task, exercise, and/or exercise module 20 (or operations thereof,and the like. Similarly, the task may dispose the opposing users 82 inpreset locations along the routes and move the opposing users 82 alongsuch routes in a preset manner which may be determined by a presetprogram stored in such a control module 40 (or game console), which maybe selected based upon the user inputs, which may be determined by atleast one of the above features of the user, task, exercise, and/orexercise module 20 (or operations thereof), and the like.

The task may be arranged to define multiple stages each of which may beprovided to the user in a preset sequence which may be decided at leastpartly based on a preset program of the control module 40 or gameconsole, based on the control and/or converted signals, based on theuser inputs provided by the user of the exercise module 20 of the sameor different system 10, and the like. Each of such stages may alsodefine identical, similar or different objects and/or backgroundtherein, may define levels or difficulties of different extents byvarying characteristics of the opposing users 82 or credits 83, and thelike. The task may also assign various thresholds onto those stages suchthat the simulated user may proceed from one stage to the next one whenthe simulated user accomplishes a preset goal in that stage.

The control and/or conversion modules 40, 70 may then be arranged tomanipulate at least one of various features of the above task such thatthe simulated user 81 defined in the image domain 51M may proceedthrough such stages of the task at least partly based on at least one ofthe features of the user, exercise, and/or exercise module 20 (i.e.,various operations thereof. Therefore, the user of the exercise module20 may manipulate the simulated user 81 of the task to proceed throughsuch stages of the task while performing exercise thereon, therewith,and/or thereagainst. Alternatively, such control and/or conversionmodules 40, 70 may be arranged to manipulate at least one of variousfeatures of the exercise and/or exercise module 20 such that the controlmodule 40 may manipulate at least one operation of the exercise module20 and/or exercise provided by such a module 20 at least partly based onat least one of such features of the task. Accordingly, the user of thecontrol module 40 (or game console) may manipulate the simulated user 81of the task to proceed through the stages of the task while performingthe exercise of which features are determined at least partly based uponat least one of such features of the task.

Other than the Pac Man game exemplified herein, the control module 40(or game console) may be arranged to provide the user with differentaudiovisual games each of which may define the above or similarfeatures, while requiring the user to resort to specific means ofaccomplishing the task goal such as, e.g., by fighting an opposing usermanipulated by a preset program and/or another user, by proceedingagainst opposing users manipulated by the preset program or anotheruser, by arriving at a preset stage or a preset location thereof withoutor against manipulation by such a preset program or another user,finding a hidden object without or against such manipulation, and thelike. Details of the task provided by the control module 40 (and/or gameconsole), however, may not necessarily be critical to the scope of thepresent invention, as long as the user may manipulate various taskfeatures defined in the image domain 51M at least partly based on suchfeatures of the user, exercise, and/or exercise module 20 whileperforming such exercise on, with, and/or against the exercise module20, as long as the exercise module 20 may change at least one of itsoperations at least partly based on such features of the user, task,and/or exercise offered by such a module 20, and the like.

Depending on the nature of the task, the control module 40 (or gameconsole) may manipulate only a single preset feature or multiplefeatures of the simulated user. For example, the control module 40 mayconvert one or more features of the user and/or exercise into suchcontrol and/or converted signals and move the simulated user 81 in asingle or multiple directions at a preset or variable speeds, eitherdirectly or in conjunction with the conversion module 70 to incorporatethe equivalence between different features of the same or differenttypes. As is manifest in the figure, however, it is preferred that thecontrol module 40 manipulate such a simulated user 81 to move indifferent directions and/or at different speeds. To this end, thecontrol module 40 may utilize its input unit 41 to receive various userinputs capable of manipulating at least one feature of the simulateduser 81 in the image domain 51M. For example, the input unit 41 may bedisposed in and/or operatively couple with the track 22 of the exercisemodule 20, monitor a force applied thereto by the user, a direction of amovement of the user, and/or an acceleration thereof, extract anintended user input therefrom, and manipulate at least one feature ofthe simulated user 81 at least partly based thereupon. It is appreciatedin this example that the user may not only perform the exercise but alsoprovide the intended user input while walking or running on such a track22 by manipulating various features of his or her exercise and that asingle part of the system 10 may not only receive the energy associatedwith the exercise but also receive the user input for manipulating thesimulated user 81. In another example, such an input unit 41 may bedisposed on and/or operatively couple to the handle 21H of the exercisemodule 20, monitor a force and/or torque applied thereto by the user,extract the intended user input therefrom, and manipulate at least onefeature of the simulated user 81 at least partly based thereon. Inanother example, the input unit 41 may be portably carried by and/ordisposed on the user, monitor or receive the user input, and manipulateat least one feature of the simulated user 81 at least partly basedthereon. It is appreciated in these two last examples that the system 10includes at least two parts, i.e., at least one major part for receivingthe energy from the user for such exercise and at least one minor partfor receiving the user input for manipulating the simulated user 81 inthe task, that the track 22 of the exercise module 20 may function asthe major part in this embodiment, and that the input unit 41 of thecontrol module 40 may function as the minor part herein.

It is to be understood that the major and minor parts may be provided invarious arrangements. For example, the major part may be arranged toreceive energy from the user while acquiring the user input at leastpartly based on a direction of input force related and/or associatedwith such energy, a velocity thereof, an acceleration thereof, aduration thereof, and the like, where the energy supplied to such aminor part and associated with the user input may correspond to at most5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%,75%, 80%, 85% or 90% of another energy supplied to the above major part.The major part may have a configuration and/or may be incorporated intolocations capable of contacting a foot or feet of the user, a leg orlegs thereof, a thigh or thighs thereof, a back thereof, a bellythereof, a side or sides thereof, a finger or fingers thereof, a hand orhands thereof, an arm or arms thereof, a shoulder or shoulders thereof,a head thereof, and/or a neck thereof. The minor part may similarlydefine a configuration and/or may be incorporated into locations capableof contacting a foot or feet of the user, a leg or legs thereof, a thighor thighs thereof, a back thereof, a belly thereof, a side or sidesthereof, a hand or hands thereof, an arm or arms thereof, a neckthereof, a shoulder or shoulders thereof, a head thereof, a finger orfingers thereof, and the like. The major part may be designed and/ordisposed to contact a first body part which may be capable of providingmore energy than another energy capable of being provided by a secondbody part to said minor part. The major and minor parts may be designedand/or disposed to respectively allow the first and second body parts tomove and/or to be depressed in the same or different directions. Themajor and minor parts may be designed and/or disposed to respectivelycontact such first and second body parts which are spaced away from eachother by at least 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 7 cm, 10 cm, and thelike. The minor part may be disposed away from the major part, aroundthe major part, inside the major part, side by side with respect to themajor part, may be disposed in an elevation higher than that of themajor part, may be in a recession, may be flush with the major part, andthe like. Therefore, the user may provide various input signals to movethe simulated user 81 along a desired direction, to perform a presetfunction, to cope with the opposing user 82, and the like.

In operation, the user supplies various settings for desired exercise inwhich the user intends to be engaged and for a desired task or, moreparticularly, the user selects what kind of features of a task is to beprovided by the system 10 in a desired mode and provides settingsthereof. Thereafter, the user turns on the exercise module 20, moves thetrack 22 at a desired speed, and begins walking and/or running on thetrack 22. As the user begins the exercise, the output module providesthe user with such images, sounds, and/or virtual environment withintended features. For example, the output module may provide the userwith the visual feature of the virtual environment by displaying desiredimages and/or visual feature of the environment on the image domain 51Mof its visual unit 51, where the images may be a still picture, a seriesof still pictures, a video clip, a combination thereof, and the like. Itis preferred, however, that the output module may manipulate the visualunit 51 to display such images and/or visual feature related and/orassociated with a desired type and/or extent of exercise and/or taskselected by the user. When commanded by the user, the output module mayprovide such sounds and/or virtual environment with the auditoryfeature, where it is preferred that such sounds or auditory feature maybe related or associated with the type and/or extent of the exerciseand/or task, the images and/or visual feature displayed on the imagedomain 51M, and the like. The output module may also provide the virtualenvironment with the olfactory feature by giving off various smellsrelated and/or associated with such images, sounds, and/or virtualenvironment so that the user is provided with not only the images andsounds but also with the smells related thereto or associated therewith.Upon being instructed, the output module may provide the virtualenvironment with the tactile feature by generating various sensations.It is preferred that the output module provide the above features of thevirtual environment in the preset perspective with respect to the useras described above and that the output module may vary at least one ofthe features and/or at least one of temporal and/or spatialcharacteristics of at least one of such features during the exercisebased on various factors which have also been disclosed above.

Depending on a preset mode of operation, the control module 40 acquiresat least one feature of the user, task, exercise, and/or exercise module20 (i.e., operations thereof using its input and/or sensor units 41, 42,and transmit to the conversion module 70 the acquired feature. Theconversion module 70 is generally charged with providing a presetrelation relating the acquired feature to at least one of multiplefeatures of the exercise (or task), generating the equivalence relatingsuch features of the same type (or different types) based on therelation, and then converting the acquired feature into the controland/or converted signals. In general, the conversion module 70 performsthese functions through its converter unit 72. Thereafter, such aconversion module 70, with its simulator unit 71, may simulate the useras the simulated user 81 and then display the simulated user 81 on theimage domain 51M of the output unit. The conversion module 70 (with itsdriver and/or interface units 73, 74) and/or control module 40 (usingits control unit 44) may manipulate at least one feature of thesimulated user 81 in order to allow the simulated user 81 to proceedthrough the preset stage of the task for the goal of the task by, e.g.,fighting against or avoiding the opposing users 82, collecting suchcredits 83, and the like. More importantly, such control and/orconversion modules 40, 70 may manipulate at least one of multiplefeatures of the simulated user 81 at least partly based upon at leastone of multiple features of the user, exercise, and/or exercise module20, whereby the user may manipulate various features of the simulateduser 81 at least partly based upon various features of the exercisewhich he or she performs on, with, and/or against the exercise module20. Conversely, the control and/or conversion modules 40, 70 maymanipulate at least one of such features of at least one operation ofthe exercise module 20 at least partly based upon at least one of suchfeatures of the user, task, and/or exercise. Accordingly, the user mayperform the exercise which is in turn provided by the exercise module 20and of which the features may be at least partly dependent upon varioususer features such as his or her physical or physiological conditions,upon various task features such as a status of the simulated user 81 inthe task, and/or upon various exercise features such as the type and/orextent thereof. In each of the examples, various task features may alsobe manipulated in various modes. For example, the control module 40 maymanipulate the task feature when such a module 40 is to provide thetask. In another example, the conversion module 70 may manipulate thetask feature when the system 10 is operatively coupled to the gameconsole which may be a part of the system 10 or a console externalthereto. In the latter case, the system 10 may be arranged to directlymanipulate the task feature or, in the alternative, may generate andthen supply the control and/or converted signals with which such a gameconsole may manipulate the task feature.

Such a system 10 may be arranged to allow the user to manipulate atleast one feature of the user, task, exercise, and/or exercise module 20(i.e., operations thereof either directly or indirectly. In one example,the user may directly supply the user input to the system 10 which maythen change at least one feature of the task at least partly basedthereon. In another example, the user may supply the user input to theexercise module 20 which may then deliver the control and/or convertedsignals to the control and/or conversion modules 40, 70 for manipulatingthe task feature at least partly based thereon. The system 10 mayinstead be arranged to allow the user to change the task feature atleast partly based upon at least one feature of the user, task,exercise, and/or exercise module 20 with or without accompanying changesin the operations of the exercise module 20. Accordingly, the system 10may adaptively change at least one feature of the task, exercise, and/oroperations of the exercise module 20 based on at least one of suchfeatures acquired thereby.

In another aspect of the present invention, a simulating exercise systemmay simulate an user thereof into at least one simulated user defined ina task and manipulate various features of the user, task, exercise,and/or exercise module at least partly based on at least one feature ofthe same type or a different type. FIG. 4B shows a schematic perspectiveview of an exemplary simulating exercise system including an exercisemodule and simulating an user of such a module as a simulated user of atask playing a board game against another simulated user of anotherexercise module according to the present invention. It is appreciatedthat not every module and/or unit of the simulating system may beincorporated into the figure but that those modules and/or units thereofdescribed hereinabove as well as those of the co-pending Applicationsmay be incorporated into the system so as to perform various functionsas set forth herein and in the co-pending Applications, respectively. Itis further appreciated that any of the above units of the control andconversion modules may also be incorporated to various exposed and/orhidden locations of the simulating exercising system. It is furtherappreciated that an upper panel of the figure represents the perspectiveview of the entire system, while a lower panel of the figure visuallyexplains a preset task defined for an user engaged in exercise which isprovided by the system as well.

An exemplary simulating exercise system 10 is similar to that of FIG.3B, except that the figure only focuses on one exercise module 20disposed in one location. Accordingly, it is appreciated that the system10 includes at least one another exercise module which is not shown inthis figure but is disposed in a different location and on, with oragainst which another user performs the same, similar or differentexercise. When desires, the user exercising on the exercise module 20 ofthis figure may be arranged to compete a control module (not shown inthe figure) of the system 10 in a common task of a story, scenery orgame.

As described in the lower panel of FIG. 2B, the control module (or gameconsole) defines the preset task which is to be performed by the user.In this particular example, the task is similar to the prior art “go”game or an equivalent thereof which defines the image domain 51M onwhich nineteen horizontal and vertical lines are to intersect eachother. More particularly, such a task defines a two-dimensionalbackground which consists of multiple points of intersection of suchlines arranged in a 19-by-19 matrix. The task defines multiple simulatedusers 81 and multiple opposing users 82, where the simulated users 81may be represented by one of black and white marbles, whereas theopposing users 82 may be represented by the other of such marbles. Suchsimulated users 81 may preferably be manipulated by the user anddisposed in any of the above intersections of the background, whilecompeting against the opposing users 82 according to preset rules of thetask such as, e.g., creating as much a territory as possible whilesurrounding and capturing such opposing users 82. In general, the taskmay decide where the opposing users 82 are to be disposed in response topositioning of the simulated users 82 based on a preset program storedin the control module 40 (or game console), as selected based upon theuser inputs, as determined by at least one of such features of the user,task, exercise, and/or exercise module 20 (or operations thereof, andthe like.

The task may define multiple stages each provided to the user in apreset sequence which may be decided at least partly based on a presetprogram of the control module 40 or game console, based on the controland/or converted signals, based on the user inputs provided by the userof the exercise module 20 of the same or different system 10, and thelike. Each of such stages may define levels or difficulties of differentextents by varying skills of such opposing users 82.

The control and/or conversion modules 40, 70 may then be arranged tomanipulate at least one of various features of the above task such thatthe simulated user 81 defined in the image domain 51M may be positionedat least partly based upon at least one of the features of the user,exercise, and/or exercise module 20 (i.e., various operations thereof.Therefore, the user of the exercise module 20 may manipulate thesimulated users 81 of the task to be disposed in preferable positions ofthe image domain 51M of such a task while performing exercise thereon,therewith, and/or thereagainst. In the alternatively, the control and/orconversion modules 40, 70 may be arranged to manipulate at least one ofthe features of the exercise and/or exercise module 20 so that thecontrol module 40 may control at least one operation of the exercisemodule 20 and/or exercise provided by such a module 20 at least partlybased on at least one of such features of the task. Accordingly, theuser of the control module 40 (or game console) may manipulate thesimulated users 81 while performing the exercise of which features aredetermined at least partly based upon at least one of such features ofthe task.

Other than the go game exemplified herein, the control module 40 and/orgame console may be arranged to provide the user with different boardand/or card games each of which may define similar or differentfeatures, while requiring the user to resort to specific means ofaccomplishing the goal of the task such as, e.g., by positioningmultiple simulated users while competing against opposing users, bymoving one or more simulated users against one or more opposing users,by collecting preferable simulated users (or cards) from a given set ofcards, and the like. Details of the task provided by the control module40 (and/or game console), however, may not necessarily be critical tothe scope of the present invention, as long as the user may manipulatesuch task features defined in the image domain 51M at least partly basedupon such features of the user, exercise, and/or exercise module 20while performing such exercise on, with or against the exercise module20, as long as the exercise module 20 may change at least one of itsoperations at least partly based on such features of the user, task,and/or exercise offered by such a module 20, and the like.

In operation, the user supplies various settings for desired exercise inwhich the user intends to be engaged and for a desired task or, moreparticularly, the user selects what kind of features of a task is to beprovided by the system 10 in a desired mode and provides settingsthereof. Thereafter, the user couples a desired number of the weights 24with the handle 21H, sits on the chair 23 of the exercise module 20,grabs the handle 21H, and then begins lifting the weights 21H bypivoting and/or reciprocating the handle 21H. As the user begins theexercise, the output module provides the user with such images, sounds,and/or virtual environment with intended features, while providing theuser with the images, sounds, and/or virtual environment as disclosed inconjunction with FIG. 4A.

Depending on a preset mode of operation, the control module 40 acquiresat least one feature of the user, task, exercise, and/or exercise module20 (i.e., operations thereof) using its input and/or sensor units 41,42, and transmit to the conversion module 70 the acquired feature. Theconversion module 70 is generally charged with providing a presetrelation relating the acquired feature to at least one of multiplefeatures of the exercise (or task), generating the equivalence relatingsuch features of the same type (or different types) based on therelation, and then converting the acquired feature into the controland/or converted signals. In general, the conversion module 70 performsthese functions through its converter unit 72. Thereafter, such aconversion module 70, with its simulator unit 71, may simulate the useras the simulated user 81 and then display the simulated user 81 on theimage domain 51M of the output unit. The conversion module 70 (with itsdriver and/or interface units 73, 74) and/or control module 40 (usingits control unit 44) may manipulate at least one feature of thesimulated user 81 in order to allow the simulated user 81 to proceedthrough the preset stage of the task for the goal of the task by, e.g.,fighting against or avoiding the opposing users 82, collecting suchcredits 83, and the like. More importantly, such control and/orconversion modules 40, 70 may manipulate at least one of multiplefeatures of the simulated user 81 at least partly based upon at leastone of multiple features of the user, exercise, and/or exercise module20, whereby the user may manipulate various features of the simulateduser 81 at least partly based upon various features of the exercisewhich he or she performs on, with, and/or against the exercise module20. Conversely, the control and/or conversion modules 40, 70 maymanipulate at least one of such features of at least one operation ofthe exercise module 20 at least partly based upon at least one of suchfeatures of the user, task, and/or exercise. Accordingly, the user mayperform the exercise which is in turn provided by the exercise module 20and of which the features may be at least partly dependent upon varioususer features such as his or her physical or physiological conditions,upon various task features such as a status of the simulated user 81 inthe task, and/or upon various exercise features such as the type and/orextent thereof. In each of the examples, various task features may alsobe manipulated in various modes. For example, the control module 40 maymanipulate the task feature when such a module 40 is to provide thetask. In another example, the conversion module 70 may manipulate thetask feature when the system 10 is operatively coupled to the gameconsole which may be a part of the system 10 or a console externalthereto. In the latter case, the system 10 may be arranged to directlymanipulate the task feature or, in the alternative, may generate andthen supply the control and/or converted signals with which such a gameconsole may manipulate the task feature. Other configurational oroperational characteristics of the exercise system 10 of FIG. 4B aresimilar or identical to those of the system of FIG. 4A.

Configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications ofthe above embodiments of various exemplary exercise systems, theirmodules, or units shown in FIG. 1, FIGS. 2A to 2F, FIGS. 3A and 3B, andFIGS. 4A and 4B also fall within the scope of this invention.

As shown in conjunction with FIG. 1, the system typically consists ofthree types of modules, where the control module includes four units,while the output module includes five units. However, the control and/oroutput modules may not necessarily include all of the units.Accordingly, the control unit may only include the input and controlunits, whereas the output unit may include only visual unit. In otherwords, the exact number of those units of the control and output modulesmay not be critical to the scope of this invention as far as each moduleperforms its intended functions. Similarly, various units of suchmodules may be deemed to belong to other modules different from thoseset forth in FIG. 1. For example, the control unit may belong to theoutput module, while the storage unit may belong to the exercisemodules. At least a portion of at least one of the visual, auditory,and/or display units of the output module may be incorporated into thecontrol module. In other words, classifications of such units are notcritical to the scope of this invention as far as each unit performs itsintended function.

By the same token, such exercise modules may be necessary for the systemof this invention. In contrary, the system may be deemed to include thecontrol and output modules, where the exercise modules may be theexternal equipment to which the system is operatively coupled. The sameapplies to other auxiliary modules needed for various operations of thesystem. For example, a power supply module may be required to power sucha system, where the power supply module may or may not be deemed to be amodule of the system. The system may also require at least one supportwhich may physically retain various modules, where the support may ormay not be deemed as a part of thereof. That is, the exercise systemrequires the control and output modules, the control module requires thecontrol unit, the output module requires the visual unit, and so on.Other units of the control and output modules set forth in thisdescription, accordingly, may be deemed as optional units of the system.

The output module may operatively couple to multiple exercise modulesand generate the same or different images (and/or sounds) for multipleusers simultaneously performing the exercises. Such a control module mayperform the same control function for each exercise module whileproviding the same or different images (or sounds) for the user(s) or,alternatively, to perform at least one different control function foreach exercise module. When desirable, the control module may operativelycouple to multiple exercise modules of different systems which aredisposed in the single location, where this control module is thendeemed as a “common” module for multiple exercise systems.

Each visual unit preferably defines at least one image domain fordisplaying the images for the task of the story, scenery or gamethereon. Such a visual unit may utilize an entire portion of its imagedomain for displaying the images. When desirable, at least one visualunit may define multiple portions in the image domain, where suchportions may define the same or different shapes and/or sizes, may bearranged in rows and/or columns, may be disposed symmetrically orasymmetrically, and the like.

The visual units may be arranged to manipulate the configurations ordispositions of the images and/or their domains. For example, at leastone visual unit may form the image domain, define a preset number ofportions therein, and change a shape or size of at least one of theportions while changing shapes or sizes of the rest thereof or,alternatively, while maintaining the shapes or sizes of the restthereof. At least one visual unit may also define the image domain,define a preset number of portions therein, and change a disposition ofat least one of such portions while maintaining dispositions of therest. At least one visual unit may define the image domain, form apreset number of portions therein while assigning the object and/orbackground thereto, and change assignments of at least one of theportions so that, e.g., one portion assigned with a single object may beassigned with the background, another object, a combination thereof, andso on. In addition, at least one visual unit may be arranged to changethe number of portions defined in the image domain during exercise. Atleast one visual unit may be arranged to assign the object andbackground to such portions of the image domain based on variousarrangements. For example, the visual unit may assign only one of theobject and background into each portion so that the object may beassigned to one of such portions, while the background or another objectmay be assigned to another thereof. In an opposite example, the visualunit may assign the object and background to one or both of theportions.

The visual and/or control units may further be arranged to manipulatethe configurations and/or dispositions of the image domain as well asits portions. For example, such unit(s) may first form the image domain,define a preset number of portions therein, and then change a shapeand/or size of at least one of such portions while changing shapesand/or sizes of the rest of such portions or, in the alternative, whilemaintaining the shapes and/or sizes of the rest thereof. Such unit(s)may also first form the image domain, define a preset number of portionstherein, and then change a disposition of at least one of the portionswhile maintaining dispositions of the rest of such portions. Suchunit(s) may also first form the image domain, define a preset number ofportions therein while assigning the object and/or background thereto,and thereafter change such assignment for at least one of such portionssuch that, e.g., one portion assigned with a single object may then beassigned with the background, another object, a combination thereof, andthe like. In addition, such unit(s) may also be arranged to change thenumber of portions defined in the image domain during exercise.

The exercise system may also include at least one input unit capable ofreceiving various user inputs supplied thereto by the user(s). Thesystem may also receive such user inputs by the exercise or controlmodules by including various prior art input devices as set forthhereinabove. Such user(s) may supply the user inputs by applyingmechanical, thermal, and/or electric signals to various parts of theexercise and/or output modules, by generating body movements which maybe monitored by such parts of the exercise, control, and/or outputmodules, by generating voice signals, face signals, and/or body signalswhich may similarly be monitored by those parts of such exercise,control, and/or output modules, and the like. The system may thenutilize such user inputs for manipulating the task feature, whether ornot the body movements of the user(s) required for generating such userinputs may be necessary or commensurate for consuming the energy of theexercising user(s). The control module may further extract the userinputs by monitoring and analyzing the body movements of the user(s),voices thereof, facial expressions thereof, and/or other body signals.

The task of the story, scenery, and/or game may be provided in suchimages using the control module alone, by the external story, scenery orgame console alone, by both, and the like, where the control module mayprovide the images and optional sounds, smells, and/or sensations forthe task to the output module for providing such features of the virtualenvironment. The control module may also manipulate at least oneoperation feature of at least one the exercise modules at least partlybased on the exercise and/or user features.

Unless otherwise specified, various features of one embodiment of oneaspect of the present invention may apply interchangeably to otherembodiments of the same aspect of this invention and/or embodiments ofone or more of different aspects of the present invention. Accordingly,any module of the system may be equipped with communication capabilitiesin order to communicate with at least one another module thereof, aslong as the part of the system disposed in each of such locations mayhave such capabilities. In other words, such communication may not haveto be performed solely by the control module and may rather be performedby the exercise and/or output modules 20, 50.

As described hereinabove, various systems, methods, and/or processes ofthis invention may be applied to any prior art exercise equipment. Forexample, such systems, methods, and processes may be applied to theexercise equipment normally requiring its user(s) to perform suchphysical work thereon or thereagainst. In another example, such systems,methods, and processes may be applied to the exercise equipmentproviding the user(s) physical and/or electrical energy while forcingand/or facilitating the body of the user(s) to vibrate or twitch themuscles thereof based thereon. In another example, the systems, methods,or process of this invention may be applied to convert any prior artequipment not intended as the exercise system of this invention.Therefore, any conventional devices primarily intended to engage theuser(s) in playing physically simulated games or video games may beconverted to the exercise system of this invention which may improve orenhance the muscle tone of the user(s), increase the muscle mass orvolume thereof, force and/or facilitate the user to reduce the weight,increase the physical stamina of the user, and the like.

It is to be understood that, while various aspects and embodiments ofthe present invention have been described in conjunction with thedetailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended toillustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is definedby the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, aspects,advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. An exercise system which is configured to provide at least two userswith at least one preset task of at least one of a story, a scenery, avideo game, and a computer game each of which defines a preset task goaland is provided in images of at least one virtual environment, to allowsaid users to simultaneously perform exercises, to relate at least onefirst feature of one of said exercises with at least one second featureof another of said exercises, and to one of directly and indirectlymanipulate said second feature at least partly based upon said firstfeature comprising: a first standard exercise module corresponding to atleast one of a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh,eighth, and ninth exercise module each configured to allow a first userto perform a first exercise at least one of thereon, therewith, andthereagainst while consuming energy thereof during said first exercise,wherein said first exercise module is configured to allow said firstuser to perform said first exercise at least one of on, with, andagainst at least one portion thereof, wherein said second exercisemodule is configured to define at least one preset load, to incorporatetherein at least one actuating part operatively coupling to said loadand contacting at least one body part of said first user, and to allowsaid user to perform said first exercise by contacting said actuatingpart and moving said actuating part against said load while consumingsaid energy during said first exercise, wherein said third exercisemodule is configured to include therein at least one track translatingalong a preset direction and to allow said first user to perform saidfirst exercise of at least one of walking and running on said trackwhile consuming said energy during said first exercise, wherein saidfourth exercise module is configured to include at least one rotationaxis, to define at least one preset load, to include therein at leastone pedal coupling with said load and rotating about said axis, and toallow said first user to perform said first exercise of rotating saidpedal against said load while consuming said energy during said firstexercise, wherein said fifth exercise module is configured to includetherein at least one movable weight, and to allow said first user toperform said first exercise of at least one of translating,reciprocating, pivoting, rotating, and moving said weight whileconsuming said energy during said first exercise, wherein said sixthexercise module is configured to define at least one central point, todefine at least one preset load, to include therein at least one levercoupling with said load and pivoting about said point, and to allow saidfirst user to perform said first exercise of at least one ofreciprocating, translating, pivoting, rotating, displacing, and movingsaid lever about said point against said load while consuming saidenergy during said first exercise, wherein said seventh exercise moduleis configured to incorporate therein at least one belt capable ofenclosing at least one body part of said first user therearound, and toallow said first user to perform said first exercise of vibrating saidbody part while consuming said energy during said first exercise,wherein said eighth exercise module is configured to define a presetload, to include therein at least one pad capable of coupling to saidload and at least one of moving and deforming in response to energysupplied by said user thereonto, and to allow said first user to performsaid first exercise of at least one of translating, reciprocating,rotating, pivoting, deforming, pushing, and pulling at least a portionof said pad against said load while consuming said energy during saidfirst exercise, wherein said ninth exercise module is configured todefine at least one preset load, to incorporate therein at least onehandle operatively coupling with said load, and to allow said first userto perform said first exercise of at least one of translating,displacing, reciprocating, rotating, pivoting, and moving said handleagainst said load while consuming said energy during said firstexercise, wherein said first exercise defines a first type and a firstextent, wherein said first standard exercise module is disposed in afirst location, and wherein said first feature is related to at leastone of said task, said first user, said first exercise, and at least oneoperation of said first standard exercise module; a second standardexercise module corresponding to at least one of said first, second,third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth exercise moduleeach of which is configured to allow a second user to perform a secondexercise at least one of thereon, therewith, and thereagainst whileconsuming energy thereof during said second exercise, wherein saidsecond exercise is configured to define a second type and a secondextent which are one of the same as, similar to, and different from saidfirst type and extent, respectively, wherein said second exercise moduleis disposed in a second location which is one of the same as anddifferent from said first location in which said first standard exercisemodule is disposed, wherein said second feature is related to at leastone of said task, said second user, said second exercise, and at leastone operation of said second standard exercise module, and wherein saidsecond standard exercise module is configured to be operatively coupledto said first standard exercise module through one of a local networkand a global network one of indirectly and directly and to allow saidfirst and second users to simultaneously perform said exercises; atleast one output module which includes at least two visual units and atleast one of at least one olfactory unit and at least one tactile unit,wherein each of said visual units is disposed in a preset dispositionand arrangement and is configured to display said images to each of saidusers, wherein said olfactory unit is configured to provide smell forsaid virtual environment, to said user and wherein said tactile unit isconfigured to provide sensation of said virtual environment to saiduser; and at least one control module which is configured to operativelycouple with said output module and at least one of said standardexercise modules one of directly and indirectly, to provide said task insaid images of said virtual environment, to display said images on saidvisual units, to assign at least one preset goal to said task, tomonitor at least one of said first feature and second feature, to relateone of said first and second features to another thereof at least partlybased upon at least one preset relation one of stored therein, generatedthereby, and supplied thereto by at least one of said users, and toperform manipulation of one of said first and second features at leastpartly based on another of said features, while providing at least oneof said smells and sensation, wherein said control module is configuredto provide said relation as well as to perform said manipulation notonly when said types and extents of said first and second exercises areidentical to each other but also when said types and extents of saidfirst and second exercises are not identical to each other based on atleast one of said first and second features, thereby allowing said firstand second users to compete for accomplishing said task goal whilesimultaneously performing said first and second exercises respectivelyin said first and second locations.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid relation relates said first feature of a preset characteristicrelated with at least one of said first user, first exercise, andoperation of said first standard exercise module with said secondfeature of said preset characteristic related with at least one of saidsecond user, second exercise, and operation of said second standardexercise module.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said relation isconfigured to relate said first feature defining one characteristicwhich is related with at least one of said first user, first exercise,and operation of said first standard exercise module with said secondfeature defining a different characteristic which is then related withat least one of said second user, second exercise, and operation of saidsecond standard exercise module.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein saidcontrol module is configured to convert said first feature from a firstunit into a second different unit and to perform said manipulation basedupon said relation which is configured to compare said converted firstfeature with said second feature.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein saidrelation is configured to relate said first feature defining onecharacteristic which is related with at least one of said first user,first exercise, and operation of said first standard exercise modulewith said second feature having said characteristic which is thenrelated to at least one of said second user, second exercise, andoperation of said second standard exercise module.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said control module is further configured to manipulateat least one of said first and second features at least partly basedupon another thereof, whereby said users simultaneously proceed alongsaid task for said goal while simultaneously performing said exercisesat least one of on, with, and against said standard exercise moduleswhich are incorporated in said locations and whereby said control modulemanipulates said another feature of one of said task and standardexercise modules one of directly and indirectly at least partly basedupon at least one of said relation and monitored feature whilecommunicating with at least one of said visual units and standardexercise module through one of said local global networks encompassingsaid locations.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first featurecorresponds to said feature of at least one of said first exercise andfirst user and wherein said second feature corresponds to said featureof said task, whereby said control module is configured to manipulatesaid task at least partly based upon at least one of said exercises andusers.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said first feature correspondsto said feature of said task and wherein said second feature correspondsto said feature of said operation, and wherein said control module isconfigured to manipulate said operation of at least one of said standardexercise modules at least partly based on said task performed by atleast one of said users.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said controlmodule is also configured to simulate at least one of said users as atleast one simulated user, to incorporate said simulated user in saidimages for said virtual environment, and to allow said at least one ofsaid users to perform said feature of said task by manipulating saidsimulated user at least partly based on said feature of at least one ofsaid exercises and users.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein saidcontrol module is configured to be disposed in one of said locations andto communicate with at least one of said standard exercise modulesdisposed in another of said locations for said manipulation one ofwirelessly and through wire.
 11. An exercise system which is configuredto connect a plurality of locations, to incorporate at least oneexercise module in each of said locations, to define at least one presettask of at least one of a story, a scenery, a video game, and a computergame each defining a preset goal and provided in images for at least onevirtual environment, and to allow each of a plurality of users tosimultaneously perform exercises at least one of on, with, and againsteach of said exercise modules in each of said locations while competingeach other in said images for said goal of said task at least partlybased on said exercises performed by said users comprising: a firstexercise module which is disposed in a first location and configured toallow a first user to perform a first exercise while consuming energythereof during said first exercise, wherein a first feature is relatedwith at least one of said first user, first exercise, and at least oneoperation of said first exercise module; a second exercise module whichis disposed in a second and different location different and configuredto allow a second user to perform a second exercise while consumingenergy thereof during said second exercise, wherein said second featureis related with at least one of said second user, second exercise, andat least one operation of said second exercise module, and wherein saidsecond exercise module is configured to form an operative coupling tosaid first exercise module via one of a local network and a globalnetwork one of indirectly and directly, thereby allowing said first andsecond users to simultaneously perform said exercises while maintainingsaid coupling through said network; at least one output module whichincludes at least two visual units and at least one of at least oneolfactory unit and at least one tactile unit, wherein each of saidvisual units is disposed in a preset disposition and arrangement and isconfigured to display said images to each of said users, wherein saidolfactory unit is configured to provide smell for said virtualenvironment, to said user and wherein said tactile unit is configured toprovide sensation of said virtual environment to said user; and at leastone control module which is configured to operatively couple with atleast one of said output module and exercise modules one of directly andindirectly, to provide said task in said images, to display said imageson said visual units, to assign at least one goal to said task, to bedisposed in at least one of said first and second locations, to monitorat least one of said first and second features, to relate one of saidfirst and second exercises to another based on at least one presetrelation, and to perform manipulation of at least one of said featuresat least partly based on at least one another feature, wherein saidcontrol module is configured to provide said relation as well as toperform said manipulation not only when said types and extents of saidfirst and second exercises are identical to each other but also whensaid types and extents of said first and second exercises are notidentical to each other based on at least one of said first and secondfeatures, thereby allowing said first and second users to compete foraccomplishing said task goal while simultaneously performing said firstand second exercises respectively in said first and second locations.12. The system of claim 11, wherein said relation relates said firstfeature of a first characteristic related with at least one of saidfirst user, first exercise, and operation of said first exercise modulewith said second feature of said first characteristic which is relatedwith at least one of said second user, second exercise, and operation ofsaid second exercise module.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein saidrelation is configured to relate said first feature defining onecharacteristic related with at least one of said first user, firstexercise, and operation of said first exercise module with said secondfeature defining a different characteristic which is related with atleast one of said second user, second exercise, and operation of saidsecond exercise module.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said controlmodule is configured to convert said first feature from a first unitinto a second different unit and to perform said manipulation based uponsaid relation which is configured to compare said converted firstfeature with said second feature.
 15. The system of claim 11, whereinsaid relation is configured to relate said first feature defining onecharacteristic which is related with at least one of said first user,first exercise, and operation of said first standard exercise modulewith said second feature having said characteristic which is thenrelated to at least one of said second user, second exercise, andoperation of said second standard exercise module.
 16. An exercisesystem which is configured to operatively connect a plurality oflocations via at least one of a local network and a global network, toinclude at least one exercise module in each of said locations, todefine at least one preset task of at least one of a story, a scenery, avideo game, and a computer game each defining a preset goal for saidtask and provided in images for at least one virtual environment, and toallow each of a plurality of users to simultaneously perform exercisesat least one of on, with, and against each of said exercise modulesdisposed in each of said locations while competing each other in saidimages for said task goal at least partly based on said exercisesperformed by said users comprising: a first exercise module which isconfigured to define a first exercise type and a first exercise load andto allow a first user to perform a first exercise while consuming energythereof during said first exercise; a second exercise module which isconfigured to define a second exercise type and a second exercise loadand to also allow a second user to perform a second exercise whileconsuming energy thereof during said second exercise, wherein saidsecond exercise module is configured to operative couple with said firstexercise module via said network one of indirectly and directly, therebyallowing said first and second users to simultaneously perform saidexercises while pursuing said goal of said task; at least one outputmodule which includes at least two visual units and at least one of atleast one olfactory unit and at least one tactile unit, wherein each ofsaid visual units is disposed in a preset disposition and arrangementand is configured to display said images to each of said users, whereinsaid olfactory unit is configured to provide smell for said virtualenvironment, to said user and wherein said tactile unit is configured toprovide sensation of said virtual environment to said user; and at leastone control module which is configured to operatively couple with atleast one of said output module and exercise modules one of directly andindirectly, to define said task goal, to provide said task in saidimages, to display said images on said visual units, to monitor at leastone of said first and second extents and loads as well as extents ofsaid first and second exercises each performed by each of said users, tosimulate said users into simulated users included in said images, torelate at least one of said type, load, and extent of said firstexercise with at least one of those of said second exercise based on atleast one preset relation, and then to perform manipulation of at leastone of said simulated users in said images at least partly based on atleast one of said types, loads, and extents related to each other bysaid relation, thereby allowing said users to compete for accomplishingsaid task goal while simultaneously performing said exercises in saidlocations regardless of whether said types of said first and secondexercises are identical to each other.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein said types of said first and second exercises are identical toeach other and wherein said control module performs said manipulation atleast substantially based on at least one of said loads and extents ofsaid exercises.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein said types of saidfirst and second exercises are different from each other and whereinsaid control module is configured to convert at least one of saidextents from one unit to another unit and to perform comparison of saidconverted extent with another of said extents, thereby performing saidmanipulation at least substantially based on said comparison.
 19. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein said control module is configured to performsaid manipulation by manipulating said simulated user in said images.20. The system of claim 19, wherein said control module is configured toperform said manipulation not only by manipulating said simulated userin said images but also by manipulating said operation of at least oneof said exercise modules based on at least one of said types, loads, andextents.